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119-hr-9789119th Congress

Stop PRC Economic Espionage Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would expand the definition of "foreign instrumentality" to include entities domiciled in specified "covered nations." It adds a second pathway for labeling an entity a foreign instrumentality based on domicile as defined in 10 U.S.C. §4872, not just on ownership or control by a foreign government.

Show full summary
  • Companies and organizations domiciled in covered nations would meet the statute's foreign instrumentality test even without foreign government ownership or control.
  • Federal investigators and prosecutors would have a broader set of entities they can consider under the economic espionage statute because domicile alone could qualify an entity.
  • Entities, their employees, and legal advisers tied to such firms could face increased legal risk when domicile in a covered nation triggers the foreign instrumentality designation.
  • The change keeps the existing enforcement framework for economic espionage under 18 U.S.C. §1839 as the operative mechanism.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

More legal risk for foreign-linked businesses

This bill would expand who counts as a "foreign instrumentality" in U.S. criminal law. It would change 18 U.S.C. §1839(1). Under the bill, an entity would qualify if a foreign government substantially controls it. A new second pathway would let an entity qualify if it is domiciled in a "covered nation" as defined in 10 U.S.C. §4872. If enacted, prosecutors could treat more foreign firms as covered for economic-espionage cases. U.S. businesses and people who work with companies based in covered nations would face more legal risk and likely higher compliance costs. The bill does not add funding or new enforcement mechanisms, and it does not specify an effective date.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

MI • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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