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Protecting American Competition Act of 2026
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.
Summary
This bill amends export control law to require the government to identify initial export licenses for controlled technology to specific end users or buyers. After granting an initial license, the government should process other applications from different companies seeking to export the same or similar technology to that same buyer in a timely manner. The bill requires the Under Secretary for Industry and Security to report annually to Congress on initial licenses granted and other applications received for the same items to the same buyers. The government retains authority to deny licenses based on national security or foreign policy concerns.
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. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48] (R-CA)
6 cosponsors
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Darrell Issa’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $45,911
- ARMSCOR PRECISION INTL $18,200
- GOOGLE $11,400
- FRANKLIN SQUARE GROUP $7,050
- 1A AUTO $6,850
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Darrell Issa → · Outside spending →
Actions (4)
- Apr 22, 2026 Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0. · house
- Apr 22, 2026 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Apr 15, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. · house
- Apr 15, 2026 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.
Committee action
What happened to this bill in committee — the meetings where it was considered and every recorded vote taken on it.
Full text
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. <all>
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