Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act

Summary

The "Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act" (H.R. 1316) amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. It mandates the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress regarding export license applications and end-use checks related to covered entities. These reports aim to increase transparency in export control processes.

Expected Effects

This act will increase congressional oversight of export controls to specific countries. It requires detailed reporting on license applications, end-use checks, and aggregate statistics. The information, excluding aggregate statistics, is exempt from public disclosure to protect sensitive information.

Potential Benefits

  • Enhanced congressional oversight of export controls.
  • Improved transparency in the export licensing process.
  • Better monitoring of compliance with export control regulations.
  • Increased accountability of entities involved in export activities.
  • Protection of sensitive enforcement information.

Potential Disadvantages

  • Potential administrative burden on the Secretary to prepare the reports.
  • Limited public access to detailed information (except aggregate statistics).
  • Risk of inadvertently jeopardizing ongoing investigations if information is not carefully vetted.
  • Possible delays in export licensing due to increased scrutiny.
  • The effectiveness of the act depends on the availability of appropriations.

Constitutional Alignment

The act aligns with the constitutional principle of congressional oversight, as outlined in Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations. The reporting requirements ensure that Congress can effectively monitor the executive branch's implementation of export control laws. The act does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.

Impact Assessment: Things You Care About

This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).