Review – HR 7924 Introduced – DOD Trucking Security

 Last month, Rep Stefanik (R,NY) introduced HR 7924, the Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act of 2026. The bill would require DOD to only use motor carriers that have been certified not be owned or controlled by, and does not have significant business relationships with, any entity identified on the most recent list of Chinese military companies. It would also require DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to develop and maintain a ‘Secure Defense Freight Carrier Registry’. No new funding is authorized by this legislation. 

The bill would add §2631b, Certification regarding affiliations with Chinese military companies for surface transportation contracts, to 10 USC Chapter 157. It would also add Chapter 140, Secure Defense Freight Carrier Registry, to 49 USC Subtitle IV. 

Moving Forward  

Stefanik is a member of the House Armed Services Committee to which this bill was assigned for primary consideration. This means that there may be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. I see nothing in this bill that would engender organized opposition in that Committee.  

The other committee to which this bill was assigned, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will likely be a different situation. First there are no cosponsors for this bill assigned to that Committee, so there is no one to speak up for the bill in Committee. Second, there is going to be industry opposition to the driver vetting requirements. Motor carriers have problems keeping enough TWIC or HMI (the two TSA run vetting programs that would likely be required under DOT regulations) drivers on board for current regulatory requirements. This means that there will be some level of push back in that Committee were it to be considered. Whether it would be enough to prevent to bill from moving forward remains to be seen. 

According to a press release from Stefanik’s office, she and Sen Cotton (R,AR) are working to include the language from this bill in the upcoming FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. 

For more information on the provisions of the bill, including a commentary on political theater, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-7924-introduced-dod-trucking-security - subscription required.