Kamlager-Dove, Huizenga, Meeks, Shreve Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Export Controls, Keep U.S. Technologies out of Adversaries’ Hands

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), led House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia Chairman Bill Huizenga (MI-04), House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), and Rep. Jefferson Shreve (IN-06) in introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen export controls enforcement at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).

The Bureau of Industry and Security is responsible for enforcing export controls on dual-use technologies sold abroad. However, BIS currently operates with only 11 Export Control Officers (ECOs) worldwide to monitor compliance and detect illicit diversions. The Export Controls Enforcement Act addresses this shortfall by codifying the ECO program and requiring BIS to staff no fewer than 20 officers globally. In line with the Administration’s proposed $122 million budget increase for BIS, this legislation ensures that the additional resources are directed toward strengthening export enforcement and protecting sensitive U.S. technologies.

“California is the number one source of semiconductor manufacturing facilities and jobs in the country and plays a crucial role in advancing U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence,” said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. “The U.S. cannot win the AI race if we do not safeguard our technological advantage. Pairing investment in U.S. innovation and R&D with effective export controls is critical to maintaining America’s leadership while protecting national security. With BIS’s licensing workload doubling since 2010, this legislation just ensures that BIS has the additional staffing needed to conduct thorough end-use checks, keeping our emerging technologies out of the hands of adversaries.”

“The current enforcement of export controls on sensitive technologies is simply inadequate,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “To protect our national security and preserve our technological advantage over adversarial nations, I am proud to lead the bipartisan introduction of the Export Control Enforcement Act. Currently, the Bureau of Industry and Security maintains only 11 overseas Export Control Officers. These individuals are responsible for conducting in-person end-use checks on tens of thousands of transactions that occur each year. The Export Control Enforcement Act will increase resources in terms of both manpower and capabilities in order to provide greater oversight of America’s most coveted technologies and prevent bad actors from circumventing our export control regime.”

"Without strong enforcement, our export controls are toothless,” said Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks. “To tackle the problems of smuggling and evasion, BIS needs more export control agents abroad doing end-use checks on critical US technology. Having only eleven agents abroad is completely insufficient."

"By strengthening our export control enforcement, we're prioritizing our nation's security. Adding additional Export Control Officers will help prevent adversarial nations like China from accessing sensitive U.S. technologies and information,” said Rep. Shreve. "It's vital that we ensure the U.S. maintains our competitive technological edge over our adversaries. I enthusiastically joined my colleagues in introducing this crucial legislation." 

Bill text is available here.

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