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To prohibit the Secretary of Defense from entering into software source code contracts with entities with certain relationships with China, and for other purposes.
To prohibit the Secretary of Defense from entering into software source code contracts with entities with certain relationships with China, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill prohibits the Secretary of Defense from entering into, renewing, or extending contracts for software source code with entities that have certain relationships with covered countries (primarily China and other countries designated in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act). Prohibited entities include those that own, operate, substantially fund, or have a material financial interest in artificial intelligence research or development facilities located in covered countries; those that have provided covered countries access to the software or source code in ways that could allow reverse engineering; or those that operate data centers in covered countries for the software. The prohibition applies only to contracts entered into, renewed, or extended within three years after the bill's enactment. The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition if determined to be in the national security interests of the United States. The bill aims to restrict Department of Defense software source code contracts with entities connected to countries of concern, particularly those involved in artificial intelligence development.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4] (R-TX)
6 cosponsors
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Pat Fallon’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $45,900
- PARTEE ENTERPRISES $20,758
- RODMAN EXCAVATION $16,600
- BLACKRIDGE $13,200
- HEARTPLACE $10,025
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Pat Fallon → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Jun 12, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. · house
- Jun 12, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 12, 2025
Mr. Fallon (for himself, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. McGuire, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. McCormick, and Mr. Gooden) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To prohibit the Secretary of Defense from entering into software source code contracts with entities with certain relationships with China, 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. PROHIBITION ON SOFTWARE SOURCE CODE CONTRACTS WITH ENTITIES WITH CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHINA.
(a) In General.—The Secretary of Defense may not enter into, renew, or extend a contract for the provision of software source code with a person described in subsection (b).
(b) Person Described.—A person described in this subsection is a person that—
(1) owns, operates, substantially funds, or has a material interest in a facility located in covered country, if such facility has a primary purpose (as determined by the Secretary) of researching or developing artificial intelligence;
(2) has allowed a covered country to access to the software, or the source code relating to such software, that is the subject of the contract, where such access could allow the covered country to reverse engineer such software source code; or
(3) operates a data center (as such term is defined in section 453 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17112)) in a covered country with respect to such software source code, including a data center operated—
(A) by a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of an entity seeking to enter into, renew, or extend a contract with the Secretary; or
(B) on behalf of such an entity by a covered country.
(c) Waiver Authority.—The Secretary may waive the prohibition under this section if the Secretary determines such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States.
(d) Applicability.—This section shall apply only with respect to contracts entered into, renewed, or extended within three years after the date of the enactment of such section.
(e) Definitions.—In this Act:
(1) The term “covered country” has the meaning given the term “covered foreign entity” in section 812 of the National Defense AuthorizationAct for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118- 31; 10 U.S.C. 4501 note prec.).
(2) The term “material interest” means a financial or other interest that the Secretary determines is significant enough to influence a decision or action of an individual. <all>
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