House Foreign Affairs Chair Aims to Boost Scrutiny of Chip Exports
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., led six other House Republicans in introducing a bill Dec. 18 that would increase congressional oversight of exports of advanced AI chips to China and other “countries of concern.”
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The Artificial Intelligence Oversight of Verified Exports and Restrictions on Weaponizable Advanced Technology to Covered High-Risk Actors Act, or AI Overwatch Act, would require the executive branch to notify Congress before approving sales of advanced AI chips to China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia or Venezuela’s Maduro regime. Similar to the Foreign Military Sales process, Congress would have 30 days to review an export and block it by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.
“The AI Overwatch Act adds an essential layer of congressional oversight of powerful dual-use chips to ensure we do not unintentionally fuel the Chinese Communist Party’s military ambitions and surveillance technologies,” said Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific and is an original co-sponsor of the Mast bill.
The legislation contains several other provisions. It would require “verifiable and enforceable mechanisms” to ensure AI chip exports do not enhance the military, intelligence, surveillance or cyber capabilities of countries of concern. It also would mandate that such exports “not adversely impact the availability” of advanced chips in the U.S.
Another provision calls for the Commerce Department to lead the development of a “national security strategy” on providing advanced AI chips to countries of concern. The legislation also seeks to fast-track AI exports to “trusted” U.S. companies in friendly countries.
Besides Kim, the bill’s original co-sponsors are House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich.; House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark.; and Reps. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich.; Keith Self, R-Texas; and Darin LaHood, R-Ill. Three policy advocacy groups also endorsed the legislation: American Compass, Americans for Responsible Innovation and FDD Action.
Mast introduced the bill the same day that House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., led 13 other House Democrats in unveiling the Restrict Act, which would block the sale of advanced AI chips to China and other U.S. arms embargoed countries (see 2512180067).
A third bill, the Safe Chips Act, which Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Chris Coons, D-Conn., introduced in early December, also would limit the export of advanced chips to China (see 2512040052). The three proposals reflect a growing congressional push to ensure the U.S. maintains its competitive edge in AI.