Rewards for Reporting Export Violations

Official: Stop Stealing our Chips Act

IntroducedApril 10, 2025

Foreign Trade and International FinanceGovernment information and archivesComputers and information technologyInternet, web applications, social mediaGovernment trust fundsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsRight of privacyTrade restrictions

Why This Matters

This bill establishes a program to encourage people to report violations of export control laws by offering rewards and protections for whistleblowers.

If you have information about illegal exports, you could earn a reward if your report leads to fines under this new program.

Affects: This bill affects individuals who witness or have knowledge of illegal exports, including non-citizens.

Summary

Stop Stealing our Chips Act This bill creates a whistleblower incentive program and establishes whistleblower protections for individuals who provide information to the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) related to violations of U.S. export control laws. Currently, BIS administers and enforces controls on the export of dual-use goods (e. g., items with both civilian and military uses) and certain military parts and components. These export controls are implemented primarily under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) through the Export Administration Regulations. Under the bill, BIS must establish a whistleblower incentive program to reward individuals who voluntarily report original information that results in BIS imposing fines under ECRA on persons that violate, attempt to violate, conspire to violate, or cause a violation of ECRA or any related regulation, order, license, or authorization. Additionally, BIS must establish a secure online portal for whistleblowers to report violations of ECRA. The bill outlines requirements for BIS to review, investigate, and provide status updates related to these reports. The bill authorizes BIS to pay an award to any whistleblower who voluntarily reported original information that led to the imposition of a fine under ECRA. The bill establishes the Export Compliance Accountability Fund for paying these awards and funding related activities. The bill also sets forth whistleblower protections by (1) prohibiting retaliation against individuals who act as whistleblowers, and (2) establishing confidentiality requirements.