Strengthening Export Controls Compliance Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8288 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8288

 To amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to provide assistance
                     for compliance with that Act.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 15, 2026

  Mr. Amo (for himself and Mr. Shreve) introduced the following bill;
         which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to provide assistance
                     for compliance with that Act.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Export Controls
Compliance Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Export Control Reform Act of 2018 calls on the
        Secretary of Commerce ``to establish a system to provide United
        States persons with assistance in complying with'' United
        States export controls as well as ``keep the public
        appropriately apprised of changes in policy, regulations, and
        procedures'' established under that Act.
            (2) The Export Control Reform Act of 2018 also calls on the
        Secretary of Commerce to report annually to Congress on
        ``efforts to provide exporters with compliance assistance,
        including specific actions to assist small- and medium-sized
        businesses''.
            (3) The Bureau of Industry and Security also generally
        holds an annual update conference on export controls to
        increase the public's and industry's understanding of United
        States export controls policies, as well as provide compliance
        guidance and regulatory updates.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) it is critical for the national security and
        technological leadership of the United States that the Bureau
        of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce
        consistently inform and educate United States businesses on
        evolving export control regulations and their implementation;
        and
            (2) seminars and trainings offered by the Bureau of
        Industry and Security can serve as a valuable resource for
        United States businesses, especially small- and medium-sized
        enterprises, that do not have large compliance departments.

SEC. 4. COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE.

    Section 1757 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C.
4816) is amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the
following:
    ``(c) Assistance for U.S. Industry.--
            ``(1) Industry outreach plan.--Every two years, the
        President shall develop and submit to Congress a plan to assist
        United States persons, especially small- and medium-sized
        United States businesses, in export licensing and other
        processes under this part. The plan should include the
        following:
                    ``(A) Arrangements for the Department of Commerce
                to provide counseling to United States persons on
                filing applications and related submissions, including
                identifying items controlled under this part.
                    ``(B) Proposals for virtual and in-person
                trainings, seminars, and conferences to educate United
                States businesses on export controls, Bureau of
                Industry and Security licensing procedures, and related
                obligations.
                    ``(C) Other activities to facilitate compliance by
                United States businesses, including review of company
                compliance plans, follow-up on license conditions, and
                company specific consultations on specific issues.
            ``(2) Annual conference.--The Secretary shall host an
        annual conference, to be known as the `Update Conference on
        Export Controls and Policy', to provide compliance assistance
        and policy updates to industry and other stakeholders. The
        conference should be listed on the Bureau of Industry and
        Security's website and open to anyone from the general public.
            ``(3) Compliance assistance for new rules.--Prior to the
        promulgation of major new rules to carry out this part, the
        Bureau of Industry and Security shall carry out dedicated
        public and industry outreach to share details with respect to
        the intent and implementation of the rule, with the goal of
        strengthening compliance.''.

SEC. 5. AMENDMENTS TO THE ANNUAL REPORT.

    Section 1765(a) of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C.
4824(a)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``a
        review of'';
            (2) in paragraph (4), insert ``a detailed list of'' before
        ``efforts'';
            (3) in paragraph (8), strike ``and'' at the end;
            (4) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(10) information on the number of Advisory Opinion and
        Commodity Classification requests, including--
                    ``(A) the number of requests submitted;
                    ``(B) the number of Advisory Opinion or Commodity
                Classifications issued as a result of the requests
                submitted under subparagraph (A);
                    ``(C) the average processing times for each
                category of request; and
                    ``(D) the number of redacted Advisory Opinions of
                general applicability posted.''.
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