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119-hr-8284119th Congress

Bureau of Industry and Security License Administration Enhancement Act

Sponsored By: Representative McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]

In Committee

Summary

Tightening and formalizing export-control licensing to block adversary access to advanced U.S. technologies. This bill would expand how the Bureau of Industry and Security handles licenses, set new denial standards, create technical advisory committees, and require reviews of controlled integrated circuits.

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  • Exporters and applicants would face stricter license rules. It would require BIS to process licenses tied to "is-informed" letters or targeted guidance through the same interagency licensing process as the Export Administration Regulations and would terminate such guidance after 60 days unless published in the Code of Federal Regulations or Federal Register.
  • Licensing officers would operate under a new presumption-of-denial policy aimed at keeping U.S. and allied technology from aiding foreign adversaries' military modernization or human rights abuses. The bill would require publication of the standards and factors within 90 days and submission to key congressional committees 7 days before public release.
  • Technical experts, industry, and academics would get a formal voice. It would create eight technical advisory committees on topics like semiconductors, AI, biotech, space, and advanced materials with evenly split membership, 3-year terms, meetings at least every 120 days, public committee pages, and annual technology and policy assessments. The bill would also require a review and a report on controlled integrated circuits within 120 days.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New expert technology advisory committees

If enacted, the bill would require the Commerce Secretary to create eight technical advisory committees on specific technology areas. Each committee would have equal members from national security, industry, and academia. Members would serve three-year terms and must sign non-disclosure agreements. Committees must meet at least every 120 days, post member lists and schedules on a BIS webpage, send meeting minutes to Congress within 30 days, and give an annual assessment to key agencies and committees. The Secretary could review and change the committees starting two years after enactment.

Tighter export rules for technology exporters

If enacted, the bill would define a list of "adversary" countries for export rules that includes China (with Hong Kong and Macau), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The Secretary of State could add other countries listed in Country Group D:5 as of January 1, 2026. The Commerce Secretary would have to publish standards and decision factors for a presumption-of-denial in the Federal Register within 90 days and send those standards to two congressional committees at least 7 days before release. The bill would also require targeted "is-informed" letters or similar guidance that are used to grant authorizations to be treated like regular EAR licenses for interagency review, and those letters would end 60 days after a license unless published in the CFR or Federal Register.

Review of advanced chip controls

If enacted, the bill would require the Commerce Secretary, with State, Defense, and Energy, to regularly review BIS's January 16, 2025 interim rule on extra due diligence for advanced computing integrated circuits or any similar successor rule. The Secretary would have to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees within 120 days after enactment summarizing findings and any changes made or under consideration. The review must be done in coordination with State, Defense, and Energy.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 4/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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