{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-legislation-to-prevent-smuggling-of-american-semiconductors-into-china-unanimously-passes-senate", "Rounds Legislation to Prevent Smuggling of American Semiconductors into China Unanimously Passes Senate", "2026-05-22", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that his legislation to prevent the smuggling of American-made semiconductors into China has passed the Senate. The Stop Stealing our Chips Act would amend the Export Control Reform Act to create a whistleblower incentive program at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). The program is designed to increase reporting of illegal exports.\n\n\u201cI am pleased that the Stop Stealing our Chips Act has passed the Senate,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThe United States has taken extensive measures to prevent American-made semiconductors from falling into the wrong hands, particularly China; however, China continues to smuggle these chips into their country. As the use of artificial intelligence continues to accelerate, this creates a grave national security concern. Our legislation would strengthen BIS\u2019s export control enforcement by rewarding whistleblowers with credible information on illegal actions to come forward. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the House to get this important legislation through Congress and to President Trump\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\u201d\n\nSenator Mark Warner (D-Va.) is a cosponsor of this legislation.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s Senate passage of the Stop Stealing our Chips Act is an important step toward strengthening our export control system and protecting America\u2019s national security,\u201d said Warner. \u201cAs China continues working to acquire advanced American AI technology through illicit networks, we need stronger tools to detect and prevent these violations. This bipartisan legislation empowers whistleblowers to help expose illegal export schemes and gives BIS additional support in enforcing our export control laws. I\u2019m proud to work with Senator Rounds to help safeguard America\u2019s technological edge and keep sensitive technologies out of the wrong hands.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe smuggling of cutting-edge semiconductors from the United States into China is a growing national security concern, as China intends to use advanced AI systems created with these chips for military applications and advanced surveillance systems. Reporting has indicated that at least eight Chinese smuggling networks have conducted transactions exceeding $100 million each. Reports also indicate that these chips often reach sanctioned Chinese entities, including military research institutions and companies linked to the People\u2019s Liberation Army. The United States has taken measures to restrict China\u2019s access to these materials, but despite these measures, black-market networks and intermediaries have exploited loopholes to funnel restricted chips into China.\n\nRounds first introduced the Stop Stealing our Chips Act in April 2025. Specifically, Rounds\u2019 legislation would:\n\nRequire BIS to create a public, secure platform for submitting whistleblower reports.\n\nEstablish a fund, financed by fines collected from export control violations, to cover whistleblower rewards and program operations.\n\nIncludes confidentiality guarantees and anti-retaliation safeguards to protect whistleblowers.\n\nWhistleblowers providing original information leading to fines against violators can receive 10 to 30 percent of collected fines, with exceptions for known terrorists and criminals as well as federal employees acting within the scope of their duties. Reports deemed credible must lead to formal investigations within 60 days, with whistleblowers receiving status updates every 30 days. Any remaining funds from fines will be returned to the Treasury. No new funds are appropriated for this program. This program is modeled after the Securities and Exchange Commission\u2019s Whistleblower Incentive Program.\n\nClick HERE to read full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-23T06:08:46Z", "2026-05-23T06:10:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-legislation-to-prevent-smuggling-of-american-semiconductors-into-china-unanimously-passes-senate"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.0677591674029827, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}