H.R. 9340, titled the 'Supporting National Security with Spectrum Act,' aims to enhance national security by increasing funding for the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) 'rip and replace' program, which removes and replaces telecommunications equipment deemed a security risk. The bill proposes raising the program's funding from $1.9 billion to $4.98 billion. Additionally, it mandates the FCC to conduct a new auction of certain spectrum licenses within the AWS-3 bands to facilitate the deployment of secure telecommunications infrastructure.
Supporters of H.R. 9340 argue that the increased funding will expedite the removal of insecure telecommunications equipment, thereby strengthening national security. The reauctioning of spectrum licenses is seen as a strategic move to enhance the deployment of secure and advanced telecommunications infrastructure, fostering innovation and economic growth.
Critics express concerns that the substantial increase in funding may not be efficiently utilized and could lead to unnecessary government expenditure. There are also apprehensions that the reauctioning process might favor larger telecommunications companies, potentially stifling competition and disadvantaging smaller providers.
The Ratepayer Protection Act, sponsored by Gabe Evans, does not show any direct industry overlaps with his top donor industries, which are primarily health professionals and retirees. With $240 million coming from health professionals and $75 million from retired individuals, there is no apparent financial incentive linked to the bill's subject matter. The lobbying activity associated with the bill includes various entities, but none are directly tied to the sponsor's top donor industries, further minimizing the risk of conflicts of interest. The lobbying amounts from companies like BYD Motors and Quectel Wireless Solutions do not correlate with the sponsor's financial backers, indicating a lack of direct influence from his major donors on this legislation.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED | BGR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | $140,000 |
| QUECTEL WIRELESS SOLUTIONS CO., LTD. | BGR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | $90,000 |
| CONNECTIONS HEALTH SOLUTIONS | MCDERMOTT+ LLC | $60,000 |
| CAMBER HEALTH | MCDERMOTT+ LLC | $50,000 |
| CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF WINEGRAPE GROWERS | TORREY ADVISORY GROUP (FORMERLY MICHAEL TORREY ASSOCIATES, LLC) | $50,000 |
| BYD MOTORS, LLC AND VARIOUS U.S. SUBSIDIARIES | BYD MOTORS, LLC AND VARIOUS U.S. SUBSIDIARIES | $20,000 |
| PAYSAFE PAYMENT PROCESSING SOLUTIONS LLC | PAYSAFE PAYMENT PROCESSING SOLUTIONS LLC | $20,000 |
| VIFCARE | MR. MARK KOPEC | undisclosed |
| IOWA TRIBE OF KANSAS AND NEBRASKA - NUWEH | MR. MARK KOPEC | undisclosed |
| VIFCARE | MR. MARK KOPEC | undisclosed |
| GREENPOWER BX LLC | MR. MARK KOPEC | undisclosed |
| CLARITY | MR. MARK KOPEC | undisclosed |
| ABRAWORKS LIMITED | BURRELL INTERNATIONAL GROUP LLC | undisclosed |
| THE PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE VIRTUAL CARE (PAVC) | MCDERMOTT+ LLC | undisclosed |
| MBDA INCORPORATED | MBDA INCORPORATED | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Gabe Evans, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
