Bill to ban certain Chinese cars approved by Senate panel

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved a bill introduced by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and co-sponsored by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) that would ban the import, sale, and operation of vehicles manufactured by companies deemed 'foreign entities of concern,' primarily targeting Chinese-made vehicles and connected vehicle technologies. Moreno argued the bill addresses national security risks, including remote control of steering, braking, and acceleration by adversarial governments. Two amendments were considered: one by Sen. Tammy Duckworth to align definitions with existing Commerce Department rules (voted down 9-19), and another by Sen. Ted Cruz to soften a provision on Chinese ownership (withdrawn). Cruz expressed support for the bill but warned that overly broad language could impact foreign batteries and raise costs, potentially hindering the bill's passage into law.