BIS STRENGTH Act
Sponsored By: Representative Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
In Committee
Summary
Temporary authority to hire outside experts to plug critical technical and policy gaps at the Bureau of Industry and Security. The bill would create a short-term hiring program that limits size, pay, and appointment length and requires annual reporting.
Show full summary
- BIS operations: Gives the agency a tool to bring in missing skills quickly for export control and national security work. The program would cap appointments at 25 people at any time.
- Hired experts: Allows appointments from outside the civil service for up to 5 years, plus one extra year if needed for national security or foreign policy. Total pay for each appointee would not exceed the Vice President's annual compensation.
- Oversight: Requires an initial report within 180 days and yearly reports after that to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Reports must list identified gaps, recruitment steps, appointee qualifications, and the program's impact on the BIS mission.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New hiring authority for BIS
This bill would let the Bureau of Industry and Security hire experts from outside the federal civil service. It would allow up to 25 such experts at one time, and each appointment would last up to 5 years, with one possible 1-year extension for national security or foreign policy. Their basic pay would be set up to the senior-level maximum plus locality pay, but total annual pay would not exceed the Vice President's yearly pay. The Under Secretary would have to run an annual study, send a report within 180 days and each year after, and the authority would expire five years after enactment. Background checks and qualification rules would still apply.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/9/2026
Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
SC • R
Sponsored 1/14/2026
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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