By Amr Gohar
Washington D.C. – A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced new legislation aimed at strengthening the enforcement of U.S. export control laws and enhancing the government’s ability to hold violators accountable.
The bill was introduced by Ryan Mackenzie and Joaquin Castro, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in an effort to modernize existing regulations in response to evolving global threats.
The proposed legislation would update the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 by extending the statute of limitations for export control violations from five years to ten years for both civil and criminal cases. It also clarifies that a civil enforcement case officially begins when a charging letter is issued, a move intended to remove ambiguity in legal proceedings.
Lawmakers say the changes are necessary as export control violations increasingly involve complex international networks, shell companies, and long-term schemes designed to evade U.S. regulations. Under current law, investigators may face time constraints that limit their ability to fully uncover and prosecute such cases.
Mackenzie said the legislation is designed to give authorities the tools needed to respond to more sophisticated threats, emphasizing that modern enforcement requires additional time to track and dismantle complex operations.
Castro echoed those concerns, warning that adversaries are becoming more advanced in attempting to bypass U.S. export restrictions, particularly when it comes to sensitive technologies. He said extending the investigative timeline would help law enforcement better prevent critical technologies from falling into the wrong hands.
Supporters of the bill argue that by expanding enforcement timelines and clarifying legal procedures, the legislation will strengthen national security, deter misconduct, and improve accountability in cases involving the illegal transfer of sensitive American technologies.
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