Legislation Proposed to Modernize Outdated Information Technology in Export Control Systems by American Politicians
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) IT Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at modernizing the IT infrastructure of the BIS, was recently re-introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Tom Kean (R-N.J.).
The BIS, an agency within the Commerce Department, is responsible for maintaining export control compliance for technologies that the government restricts due to national security concerns. The bill seeks to provide the BIS with $25 million for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to modernize its outdated IT systems.
The BIS has long relied on manual, laborious processes to identify violators, maintain restrictions, and add entity list entries due to its outdated technology. The Act aims to enhance monitoring and enforcement capabilities, improve mapping of commercial ties, support controls on advanced artificial intelligence and semiconductor technologies, and modernize the Entity List.
The potential impacts of the Act on national security and technology export controls include enhanced monitoring and enforcement through improved data analytics, decision-making software, supply chain visibility, and AI adoption. This would make it harder for advanced U.S. technologies to be covertly exported to hostile foreign entities.
The Act also calls for BIS, alongside other agencies, to map the commercial ties linking the industrial bases of China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and other "countries of concern." The modernization efforts include scaling up the use of data, analytics, decision-making software, supply chain illumination tools, AI adoption, and the addition of new data sharing interfaces.
The bill's focus is on enhancing the BIS's capabilities for export controls and sanctions enforcement, including the mapping of commercial ties with countries of concern. If approved, the additional funding would prevent the BIS from having to rely on its own funds for IT equipment purchases.
The re-introduction of the bill comes amid concerns about export controls and the need for the BIS to modernize its technology. The bill is seen as a crucial step towards ensuring the BIS has the necessary capabilities to respond to current threats.
While the bill has been presented, it has not yet passed, and its progress from last year was hindered. However, bipartisan support for the measure remains, and committees have signaled interest in advancing it. The House Foreign Affairs Committee currently has the bill but has no bill markup sessions on its calendar.
The modernization of the BIS's IT systems is essential for maintaining the U.S.'s technological advantages vital to its security interests. The bill is positioned for consideration amid bipartisan support for enhancing national security through modernized export control systems.
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