H.R. 8285

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8285 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8285

To amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to require a competitive 
market review of applications for a license to export, reexport, or 
transfer in-country certain technology, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 15, 2026

Mr. Issa (for himself, Mr. Meeks, and Mr. McCormick) 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 require a competitive 
market review of applications for a license to export, reexport, or 
transfer in-country certain technology, 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 ``Protecting American Competition Act 
of 2026''.

SEC. 2. INITIAL LICENSE REVIEW.

(a) In General.--Section 1756 of the Export Control Reform Act of 
2018 (50 U.S.C. 4815) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Initial License Review.--
``(1) In general.--In reviewing an application for a 
license or other authorization for the export, reexport, or in-
country transfer of items controlled under this part, the Under 
Secretary for Industry and Security (Under Secretary) shall 
consider whether the requested license or other authorization, 
if issued, would be the initial license or other authorization 
for the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of such item 
to an ultimate consignee or end user.
``(2) Treatment of subsequent license applications.--After 
issuing an initial license or other authorization for the 
export, reexport, or in-country transfer of an item described 
in paragraph (1), the Under Secretary should attempt to 
administer in a timely manner any subsequent application by 
other applicants for a license or other authorization for the 
same or a similar item to the same ultimate consignee or end 
user as the initial license.
``(3) Report to congress.--No later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this subsection, and annually 
thereafter, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report that details--
``(A) the number of initial licenses granted, if 
any, in the previous calendar year for which there were 
other applications submitted to export, re-export, or 
in-country transfer the same or a similar item to the 
same ultimate consignee or end-user;
``(B) the details of the initial licenses granted, 
if any, for which there were other applications 
submitted for a license to export, re-export, or in-
country transfer the same or a similar item to the same 
ultimate consignee or end-user, and the details and 
outcome of such other submitted applications; and
``(C) the reason for creating an initial license to 
export, re-export, or in-country transfer of the item 
or a similar item to the ultimate consignee or end-user 
when there were other applications for the submitted 
for a license to export, re-export, or in-country 
transfer a same or similar item to the same ultimate 
consignee or end-user.
``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to require the Under Secretary to delay a licensing 
decision or administer a licensing decision that is contrary to 
the national security or foreign policy interests of the United 
States.
``(5) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Appropriate congressional committees.--The 
term `appropriate congressional committees' means the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
``(B) Under secretary.--The term `Under Secretary' 
means the Under Secretary for Industry and Security, 
acting in consultation with the Secretary of State, the 
Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Energy, or 
their designees.''.
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Under Secretary for Industry and Security shall submit 
to Congress a report on how the Under Secretary is implementing 
subsection (f)(2) of section 1756 of the Export Control Reform Act of 
2018, as added by subsection (a), including detailing any changes to 
licensing policy or licensing officer operating protocols implemented 
pursuant to implementation of such subsection.
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