HR6875119th CongressWALLET

AI OVERWATCH Act

Sponsored By: Representative Mast

Introduced

Summary

This bill would impose tight new export controls on high‑performance integrated circuits to block their transfer to certain "countries of concern." It also creates a narrow exemption for verified U.S. entities and builds in stepped-up technical updates and Congressional review.

Show full summary
  • U.S. chip makers and exporters would face a new license requirement for defined "covered integrated circuits" sent to entities in listed countries of concern, with no general license allowed and prior licenses to those countries terminated.
  • Firms that qualify as a "Trusted United States Person" could be exempted if they meet security, ownership, sourcing, and audit rules, including a limit that no more than 10 percent of ultimate beneficial ownership may be held by any entity primarily domiciled in a country of concern and a 90‑day window for BIS to seek public input on standards.
  • Licenses would need a 30‑day certification to relevant congressional committees before approval and could be blocked by an expedited joint resolution; the bill also requires a national security strategy and a DNI FY2026 assessment of China’s CIC capabilities.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

New licenses to send high-end chips abroad

This bill would require a license to export, reexport, or transfer covered high‑end chips to entities in, or ultimately owned from, certain countries. The listed countries would include China (with Hong Kong and Macau), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela under Maduro. No general license could be used; any old licenses for these transfers would end on enactment. Agencies would need to send Congress the license file at least 30 days before approval, including ECCNs, technical specs, end users, conditions, and security certifications; Congress could block the deal in that window. All such licenses would be denied until 14 days after a required national security strategy is sent to Congress. Covered chips would include items under ECCN 3A090 or 4A090 (and similar/related items, including certain 5A002.z products) or chips that meet set thresholds: total processing performance of 4,800+; or 2,400+ with performance density 1.6+; or 1,600+ with performance density 3.2+; or DRAM bandwidth 1,400 GB/s+, or interconnect 1,100 GB/s+, or both totaling 1,700 GB/s+. Products that contain such chips would also be covered, unless not designed or marketed for data centers. Calculations would follow Commerce Control List 3A090 as of December 15, 2025, and parameters could change 18 months after the strategy if a policy committee approves by majority vote.

National security plan on advanced chips

The bill would require the Secretary of Commerce to send Congress a national security strategy on access by countries of concern to covered chips, tools, and parts. It would assess how exports change those countries’ military, intelligence, surveillance, and cyber capabilities. The Director of National Intelligence would also deliver a fiscal year 2026 assessment of China’s chip production. That report would say whether access to U.S.‑designed chips would change China’s indigenous output, compare output and capability to the U.S. and allies, and include a quantitative look at AI capability under indigenous‑only production.

Trusted exporter program for advanced chips

If enacted, Commerce would create a "Trusted United States Person" designation within 90 days. Firms could apply, but at most 10% of ultimate beneficial ownership could be tied to a country of concern. A trusted firm could not install a majority of its total covered‑chip processing power outside the U.S. It would need strong physical and cyber security, remote‑access controls, secure repair and disposal, and yearly audits. Some license rules (EAR 742.6, 744.23) would not apply when covered chips go to non‑concern countries and remain owned and controlled by the trusted firm or its subsidiaries once in operation. Commerce would also consider secure ways to extend this relief to close allies.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Mast

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Huizenga

    MI • R

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • Moolenaar

    MI • R

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • Kim

    CA • R

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • Self

    TX • R

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • Crawford

    AR • R

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • LaHood

    IL • R

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • McCaul

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Davidson

    OH • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2026

  • Kean

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 1/8/2026

  • Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]

    GU • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2026

  • Baird

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2026

  • Fine

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2026

  • Moran

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/20/2026

  • Lawler

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/20/2026

  • Miller (OH)

    OH • R

    Sponsored 1/20/2026

  • Meeks

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Newhouse

    WA • R

    Sponsored 1/22/2026

  • Kamlager-Dove

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/22/2026

  • Sherman

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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