Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
Protecting America from Chinese Cars Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Protecting America from Chinese Cars Act of 2026. It stops certain connected vehicles associated with foreign adversaries from entering or being transported into the United States. The ban applies to vehicles originating from, designed in, or linked to specific covered countries like North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran, or those with significant control by entities from those nations. An exception is made for vehicles brought in solely for testing and evaluation by domestic entities, provided they are not driven on public roads. The Commissioner and the Secretary of Commerce are given powers to issue specific authorizations for vehicles if they determine there is no national security risk, subject to a congressional review period. The Act also requires officials to create regulations, establish lists of banned and authorized vehicles, and set up procedures for manufacturers to request authorizations.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
The bill significantly enhances national security and cybersecurity by preventing connected vehicles linked to foreign adversaries from entering U.S. infrastructure.
- Scored +7
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
By prohibiting connected vehicles from adversarial nations, the bill protects against foreign data exfiltration risks.
- Scored +5
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
Safeguards user privacy by preventing connected vehicles from transmitting sensitive operational data to foreign adversaries.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
The bill restricts vehicle trade and imports originating from specific adversarial countries.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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National Security Protection: Under Section 2(a), the bill blocks connected vehicles linked to covered countries from entering the United States, which helps protect the nation from risks like data exfiltration, remote manipulation, and threats to critical infrastructure.
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Safe Research Exceptions: Under Section 2(b), vehicles brought into the country strictly for testing and evaluation by U.S.-based entities are allowed entry, provided they will not be driven on public roads, supporting domestic research safety.
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Transparency and Public Awareness: Under Section 2(c)(2) and Section 2(d), the Secretary of Commerce must publish and maintain a list of authorized connected vehicles along with risk explanations, and issue regulations with a public dissemination plan to keep people informed.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Vehicle Choices: Under Section 2(a), consumers face prohibitions on entering the United States for connected vehicles whose country of origin or design is a covered country, or where more than 15 percent of the manufacturer's equity, voting interest, or control belongs to entities in a covered country.
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Regulatory and Bureaucratic Burdens: Under Section 2(c)(3) and Section 2(d), manufacturers must navigate newly established procedures to seek authorizations, and federal agencies face strict mandates to draft regulations, perform risk assessments, and notify Congress, which could slow down vehicle availability.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — Safeguards user privacy by preventing connected vehicles from transmitting sensitive operational data to foreign adversaries. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation requires public publication of authorized vehicle lists, detailed risk assessments, and regulatory frameworks. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants explicit regulatory and enforcement powers to federal agencies like the Department of Commerce and Customs and Border Protection.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — By prohibiting connected vehicles from adversarial nations, the bill protects against foreign data exfiltration risks.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill significantly enhances national security and cybersecurity by preventing connected vehicles linked to foreign adversaries from entering U.S. infrastructure. Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill restricts vehicle trade and imports originating from specific adversarial countries.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this tighten control of the border? — The legislation empowers Customs and Border Protection to block unauthorized connected vehicles from foreign adversaries entering the United States.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill protects consumers from potential data exfiltration and remote manipulation risks associated with foreign-adversary connected vehicles.
- 6/9/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.