Kean, Johnson Introduce Bill to Protect American AI Chips, Strengthening Export Control Enforcement

(December 3, 2025) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ) and Julie Johnson (D-TX) announced the introduction of the Stop Stealing Our Chips Act, bipartisan legislation designed to prevent the smuggling of American-made artificial intelligence (AI) chips and other sensitive technologies into China. The bill would establish a whistleblower incentive program at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), thereby strengthening U.S. export control enforcement and encouraging reporting of export control violations.
 

The legislation is cosponsored by Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on China, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), and Representative Josh Harder (D-CA).

Congressman Kean said, “China and other foreign adversaries are actively working to circumvent U.S. export control laws and illegally obtain advanced American chips and other sensitive technologies. I introduced the StopStealingOurChipsAct to help authorities identify and mitigate those threats. By offering robust protections and meaningful financial incentives for whistleblowers with credible information, we can strengthen enforcement, prevent violations before they occur, and protect our national security.”

Congresswoman Johnson said, “America’s technological leadership is one of our greatest strategic advantages — and we cannot allow foreign adversaries to steal it, risking our national security. This is especially important in my district, home to Texas Instruments headquarters — one of the top semiconductor companies in the world — as well as Qorvo, which produces critical components for F-35s and other key defense technologies, and many more. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act is a commonsense, bipartisan step to protect our most sensitive supply chains and ensure that the innovations powering our economy and safety stay in American hands.”

Chairman Moolenaar said, “Artificial intelligence is the defining technology of the new Cold War. Whether the U.S. or China wins this race will be determined in large part by who has more and better chips. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act will encourage those who witness chip smuggling to speak out while shielding them from retaliation. Whistleblowers who protect our national security deserve to be protected by our laws.”

Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi said, “I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to crack down on the smuggling of advanced U.S. chips to the Chinese Communist Party. A strong whistleblower program at BIS will help surface the facts we too often miss and ensure our export-control laws actually carry weight. Effectively enforcing our export controls is essential to protecting our national security.” 

Chairwoman McClain said, “The Stop Stealing our Chips Act is about protecting America’s technological edge and holding bad actors accountable. By cracking down on illegal exports and empowering whistleblowers, we will make sure U.S.-made AI chips strengthen our future, not our adversaries.”

Congressman Harder said, “U.S. chip leadership is the product of decades of American innovation and central to our economic and national security. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act is a common-sense measure to maintain this hard-won advantage and prevent China from using American technology against us.” 

BACKGROUND:

As the United States forges ahead in the global AI race, it is critical that existing export control laws governing the sale and distribution of advanced semiconductor technology are rigorously enforced. However, recent reporting has revealed persistent violations involving diversion of American-made microchips into China, underscoring ongoing enforcement challenges. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the agency responsible for ensuring effective export controls and treaty compliance, often lacks timely and credible information needed to identify violations, initiate investigations, and hold violators accountable. Strengthening the mechanisms for reporting and detecting violations is essential to ensuring that competitive U.S. technologies do not end up in the hands of foreign adversaries.

Specifically, the StopStealingOurChipsActwould: 

• Require BIS to establish a secure, public portal for whistleblower submissions.

• Create a whistleblower incentive program to reward individuals who submit original and credible information that leads to a formal investigation and the imposition of a fine.
• Provide confidentiality protections and anti-retaliation safeguards for whistleblowers who report violations of U.S. export control laws.

Both U.S. and foreign citizens who provide actionable information leading to fines against violators could receive 10-30% of any resulting penalty, with exclusions for known terrorists and federal employees acting within the scope of their duties.

The full text of the House bill is available HERE. A companion Senate bill (S.1473) was introduced in April 2025 by Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Mark Warner (D-VA).

In August 2025, Congressman Kean also co-introduced the BISITModernizationAct (H.R.4920), which would update BIS’s outdated information technology systems at the U.S. Department of Commerce, ensuring the United States can meet the demands of modern export control enforcement.

Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

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