Bill was included in Coast Guard Authorization Act and establishes alternative timing system to GPS satellites
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) issued the following statements applauding the passage of their bipartisan National Timing Resilience and Security Act, which directs the Secretary of Transportation to provide for the establishment, sustainment, and operation of a land-based, resilient, and reliable alternative timing system to Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. Additionally, their bill would ensure the availability of uncorrupted and non-degraded timing signals for military and civilian users in the event that GPS signals are corrupted, degraded, unreliable, or otherwise unavailable.
“I am pleased my bipartisan National Timing Resilience and Security Act was included in this Coast Guard Authorization,” Sen. Cruz said. “Currently, there is no domestic back up system to GPS, and crucial infrastructure – including gas stations, medical devices, and ATMs – could shut down and pose immediate threat to life and the economy in the United States should it be disrupted for even just a few hours. It is important both to our national and economic security that we have an alternative GPS timing system. I am grateful for Sen. Markey’s leadership on this issue, and I am hopeful this bill is swiftly signed into law.”
“The precise timing provided by GPS forms the backbone of the nation’s banking, communications, electricity, and transportation sectors,” said Sen. Markey. “Regrettably, this vital system could be imperiled by natural phenomenon like solar flares or coordinated attacks like jamming. I’m proud this legislation includes Senator Cruz and my provision creating a backup GPS system, which will enhance the resilience and reliability of this critical infrastructure.”