New Bill Targets China’s Grip on Transportation and Infrastructure

For Immediate Release: July 15, 2025

U.S. taxpayer dollars should not fund Chinese government-owned and -subsidized bus and rail rolling stock manufacturers. 

Washington, D.C. — China’s bus, railcar, and other “rolling stock” vehicle manufacturers could reap U.S. taxpayer-backed contracts unless Congress passes the Safeguarding Transit Operations to Prohibit (STOP) China Act. Introduced by Reps. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) and Ro Khanna (D-Cali.) on Tuesday, the bipartisan bill would close loopholes in a 2019 law that prohibits federal transit funds from being used to purchase transit buses, railcars, and other rolling stock vehicles from companies owned or supported by China. 

The STOP China Act ensures that no federal financial assistance awards granted by the U.S. Department of Transportation may be used to purchase “rolling stock” vehicles or powertrain components from companies under China’s influence. The legislation also requires a list of these restricted entities to be made public.

Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) President Scott Paul said:

“Beijing’s deep subsidies and non-market practices make it impossible for domestic transit vehicle manufacturers to win contracts when pitted against China. This is not a fair competition. America’s workers are ready and eager to make the strong, secure, and state-of-the-art transit vehicles that our country needs. The STOP China Act would give them the shot they deserve.

“China has long weaponized its enterprises to undermine U.S. national security and economic success. But loopholes in federal sourcing laws, such as the one that the STOP China Act aims to close, mean that U.S. taxpayers may unwittingly underwrite that mission.

“Congress must urgently enact the STOP China Act to safeguard America’s public transit systems and supply chains from foreign state-owned and -supported enterprises. Without it, foreign adversaries that Congress clearly intended to be restricted from our public infrastructure will try to circumvent U.S. law.

“America’s taxpayer dollars should not be used to support Chinese state-owned and -supported firms seeking to undermine market competition. Should we fail to make the STOP China Act law, China will seize any and all opportunities to eliminate its U.S. competition and penetrate our critical infrastructure. This is an unacceptable economic and national security risk that must be addressed.”

In May, the bipartisan bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tina Smith (D-N.M.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).

The STOP China Act has garnered the support of the Steel Manufacturers Association, Securing America’s Future Energy, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the United Steelworkers, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the Transport Workers Union of America, and the American Iron and Steel Institute. AAM joined this coalition of unions and industry groups in a May letter that called on Congress to pass this legislation.

Background:

The STOP China Act builds upon the Transportation Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act (TIVSA), a 2019 law prohibiting certain companies with ties to the Chinese government from participating in projects funded by the Federal Transit Administration. Subsequent legislation, the Airport Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act (AIVSA), was enacted in 2024 and extends a similar restriction to airport improvement programs.

However, companies restricted under these laws have begun to exploit loopholes that threaten to undermine Congress’s clear intent to safeguard our critical infrastructure and supply chains from Beijing’s attempts to dominate these sectors. AAM strongly supported both the TIVSA and AIVSA laws and now supports efforts to make them stronger with the STOP China Act.

The need for Congress to pass the STOP China Act was presaged in a May 21 letter sent by members of the House Committee on Homeland Security to RIDE Mobility LLC (“RIDE”) and BYD North America LLC (“BYD”), which is headquartered in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The committee writes:

“We are… concerned by your companies’ recent efforts to rebrand operations under the RIDE Mobility banner, a move that appears designed to portray your business as a U.S.-based domestic manufacturer. While rebranding is not itself improper, public representations made by RIDE fail to account for ongoing corporate and operational entanglements with PRC-based entities. This creates the appearance that your companies are seeking to circumvent procurement restrictions or avoid scrutiny applied to PRC-affiliated firms seeking access to the U.S. electric vehicle market.”

Paul is available for interviews.

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