????Earlier this year Fortune chronicled China-based telecom equipment maker Huawei's efforts to win private contracts in the United States. Thus far the fast-growing gear maker, which last year had sales of $27 billion, has been thwarted by national security concerns.
????Now FORTUNE has learned that external relations VP William Plummer is asking Huawei's US employees to rally on behalf of the company. In an email obtained by Fortune, with the subject line "Exercising your Rights—Support of Huawei," Plummer asks US employees of the company to consider writing to their Congressional reps.
????At issue? A recently-announced U.S. House Intelligence Committee investigation into China-based telecom gear providers. According to Plummer's note to employees, Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican, specifically calls out Huawei. ZTE, another gear maker whose shares trade in Hong Kong, is also named in the investigation.
????Plummer's email to employees suggests that they encourage their representatives to pursue "an open, full and fact-based consideration of the threats presented by global supply chains, regardless of the integrator or end-solution supplier." (Tranlsation: Couldn't an American company with operations and engineers in China be just as likely a challenge to security as Huawei?)
????But Plummer clearly wants to Congress to lay off Huawei. His sample letter (full text below the fold) for employees to forward to their lawmakers, reminds the reader that Huawei is a growing company and a potential job creator. "I wanted to bring to your attention an ongoing Congressional activity that potentially threatens my livelihood and my family's well-being, as well as those of my American and other colleagues," the sample letter says. Huawei has more than 1,500 employees in the U.S., and 120,000 worldwide.
????Here's the complete text of the letter Plummer suggests employees personalize and send to their Congressional leaders:
????Dear: The Honorable <insert name>
????My name is?<insert name> and I am writing to you as one of your constituents <or, "as an American," if addressed to an Intelligence Committee Member not from your District> living in?<insert hometown.> I wanted to bring to your attention an ongoing Congressional activity that potentially threatens my livelihood and my family's well-being, as well as those of my American and other colleagues.
