US House Votes on $3B Plan to Replace Chinese Telecom Gear Amid Cost Concerns

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on a defense bill that allocates over $3 billion to help U.S. telecom companies remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from their networks due to security concerns. This funding aims to address a $3.08 billion shortfall in the "rip and replace" program, which is crucial for maintaining connectivity, especially in rural areas. The initiative is part of broader efforts to counter Chinese influence and includes other measures like assessing China's biotechnology capabilities.