U.S. Tech PATH Act
Sponsored By: Senator Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
In Committee
Summary
Boost trusted U.S. technology procurement by foreign partners. This bill would create the United States Cyber and Digital Technology Procurement Program inside the State Department to help friendly governments buy U.S.-origin cyber and digital technologies, streamline procurement, and support the Pax Silica supply-chain effort.
Show full summary
- Foreign government partners: Eases procurement by offering one-stop help on rules, logistics, financing options, and capacity building. Support is conditional on risk assessments, end-use monitoring, and bans for countries or entities on sanctions or export-control lists.
- U.S. companies and small businesses: Aims to build long-term purchase pipelines and lets the program give targeted help to small U.S. firms so they can compete for foreign government contracts without getting special market advantages.
- State Department and U.S. missions: Would create an Office in the Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, allow up to 10 special hires, require at least one tech expert at participating missions, and extend the Regional Technology Officer Program authorization to 2032.
*Would authorize $500 million for FY2026–2031 to the Cyber and Digital Technology (CDT) Fund and $2 million for FY2026–2028 for Office implementation, increasing federal spending by those amounts.*
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Help for small U.S. tech firms
This bill would allow the Secretary to give targeted help to U.S. small tech firms that lack global reach. Help could include capacity building and help engaging foreign government buyers. Any assistance would have to avoid giving an unfair competitive advantage over other U.S. providers.
New State Department tech program
This bill would create a State Department program to help partner governments buy trusted U.S. cyber and digital technology. It would authorize $500 million to the CDT Fund for FY2026–FY2031 and $2 million for FY2026–FY2028 to set up the office. The Secretary would publish priority tech categories and review them each year. The office could hire up to 10 special‑appointment staff for two years and the program would end eight years after enactment. The Secretary would, to the maximum extent practicable, seek partner cost‑sharing and try to ensure missions host at least one full‑time tech staffer.
Stricter vetting and funding bans
This bill would require the Secretary to vet partner governments for human rights abuses, corruption, and likely misuse of technology. Partners that engage in serious abuses or likely misuse would be ineligible. The Secretary would need risk assessments, export‑control checks, end‑use monitoring, and coordination with the intelligence community and the Defense Department. The bill would also bar funds to countries of concern and to entities or people under Treasury sanctions or on the Commerce Department Entity List.
Congressional reports and independent audits
This bill would require the State Department and Commerce to report to Congress within one year and annually after. Reports must list partners, purchases and investments, technology providers, values, progress, next steps, and risk mitigations. The Comptroller General would review the program within one year and at least every two years until the program ends to check staffing, processes, monitoring, and technology choices.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov