H.R. 7003

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7003 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7003

To authorize the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security 
to appoint certain personnel in order to attract highly qualified 
experts, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2026

Mr. Shreve (for himself and Ms. Kamlager-Dove) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in 
addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To authorize the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security 
to appoint certain personnel in order to attract highly qualified 
experts, and for other purposes.

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 ``BIS Strategic Talent Recruitment to 
Enhance National Guardrails for Technological Handling Act'' or the 
``BIS STRENGTH Act''.

SEC. 2. ATTRACTING HIGHLY QUALIFIED EXPERTS TO BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND 
SECURITY.

(a) In General.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and 
Security, in order to attract to the Bureau of Industry and Security 
highly qualified experts in needed occupations (as determined by the 
Under Secretary), may--
(1) conduct an annual study to identify specific gaps in 
expertise at the Bureau that have been difficult to fill 
through the civil service and constrain the Bureau's ability to 
effectively fulfil the Bureau's mandate;
(2) notwithstanding any provision of section 3304 or 
sections 3309 through 3318 of title 5, United States Code, 
appoint personnel from outside the civil service (as defined in 
section 2101 of title 5, United States Code) that have the 
expertise identified pursuant to paragraph (1) to positions in 
the Bureau of Industry and Security; and
(3) prescribe the rates of basic pay for positions to which 
employees are appointed under paragraph (2) at rates not in 
excess of the maximum rate of basic pay authorized for senior-
level positions under section 5376 of title 5, United States 
Code, as increased by locality-based comparability payments 
under section 5304 of that title, notwithstanding any provision 
of that title governing the rates of pay or classification of 
employees in the executive branch.
(b) Limitation on Term of Appointment.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
service of an employee under an appointment made pursuant to 
this section may not exceed 5 years.
(2) Extensions.--The Under Secretary may, in the case of a 
particular employee, extend the period to which service is 
limited under paragraph (1) by not more than one additional 
year if the Under Secretary determines that such action is 
necessary to promote the national security or foreign policy of 
the United States.
(c) Limitation on Total Annual Compensation.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of this section or of section 5307 of title 5, United 
States Code, no additional payments may be paid to an employee under 
this section in any calendar year if, or to the extent that, the total 
annual compensation of the employee will exceed the maximum amount of 
total annual compensation payable to the Vice President under section 
104 of title 3, United States Code.
(d) Limitation on Number of Highly Qualified Experts.--The number 
of highly qualified experts appointed and retained by the Under 
Secretary under subsection (b)(1) shall not exceed 25 at any time.
(e) Report Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the 
Under Secretary shall submit to the committees specified in 
paragraph (2) a report that includes--
(A) a list of areas in which the Under Secretary 
has identified specific gaps in expertise pursuant to 
subsection (a)(1);
(B) the steps taken by the Under Secretary to 
appoint personnel with expertise in such areas from 
within the civil service during the period specified in 
paragraph (3);
(C) the number of individuals appointed to the 
Bureau of Industry and Security under the authority 
provided by this section during the period specified in 
paragraph (3);
(D) a description of the qualifications of such 
individuals and their responsibilities during that 
period; and
(E) a description of the impact of such individuals 
on carrying out the mission of the Bureau of Industry 
and Security.
(2) Committees specified.--The committees specified in this 
paragraph are--
(A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform of the House of Representatives; and
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives.
(3) Period specified.--The period specified in this 
paragraph is--
(A) in the case of the first report required by 
paragraph (1), the 180-day period preceding submission 
of the report; and
(B) in the case of any subsequent report required 
by paragraph (1), the one-year period preceding 
submission of the report.
(f) Savings Provisions.--In the event that the Under Secretary 
terminates the authority under this section, in the case of an employee 
who, on the day before the termination of the authority, is serving in 
a position pursuant to an appointment under this section--
(1) the termination of the authority does not terminate the 
employee's employment in that position before the expiration of 
the lesser of--
(A) the period for which the employee was 
appointed; or
(B) the period to which the employee's service is 
limited under subsection (c), including any extension 
made under this section before the termination of the 
authority; and
(2) the rate of basic pay prescribed for the position under 
this section may not be reduced as long as the employee 
continues to serve in the position without a break in service.
(g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to waive any requirement regarding background checks or 
qualifications of applicants to positions with the Bureau of Industry 
and Security.
(h) Termination.--The authority provided by this section shall 
cease to be effective on the date that is 5 years after the date of the 
enactment of this section.
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