FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
March 26, 2026
Cotton, Schumer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries
Washington, DC — Senate Republican Conference Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) today introduced bipartisan legislation to protect Americans from national security threats that are introduced by foreign-controlled robots.
The American Security Robotics Act will prohibit the federal government from procuring and operating unmanned ground vehicles made by foreign adversaries, specifically Communist China. Robotics companies tied to the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese military are increasingly selling their products to American research labs, universities, law enforcement, and even targeting consumers who are purchasing robots for personal use.
Advanced Chinese robotics contain backdoors that enable data exfiltration and risk remote-hijacking, threatening American’s privacy and national security. America can’t allow our adversaries to establish a foothold in our homes, law enforcement agencies, and broader robotics industry, particularly as these platforms provide a connection to the physical world as the AI algorithms that power them are rapidly advancing.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (New York-21) introduced companion legislation in the House.
“Robots made by Communist China threaten Arkansans’ privacy and our national security. Our bill will ban the federal government from buying and operating these devices made in countries that wish us harm,” said Senator Cotton.
“The Chinese Communist Party has shown that they are willing to lie and cheat to get ahead at the expense of the American people and our national security. They are running their standard playbook – this time in robotics – trying to flood the U.S. market with their technology, which presents real security risks and threats to Americans’ privacy and American research and industry. We must protect our country from these threats, starting with a ban on the federal government buying this CCP technology,” said Senator Schumer.
“One of America’s greatest strengths is the ingenuity of our people—our visionaries, inventors, engineers, and dedicated workers. We must continue to promote and propel America’s robotics superiority while safeguarding our privacy and national security from adversaries. This is why I am introducing bicameral, bipartisan legislation with my colleague Senator Cotton,” said Congresswoman Stefanik.
Text of the bill can be found here.
The American Security Robotics Act would:
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