Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ) and Julie Johnson (D-TX) have introduced the Stop Stealing Our Chips Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at stopping the smuggling of American-made artificial intelligence chips and other sensitive technologies into China. The legislation would create a whistleblower incentive program within the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), intended to strengthen enforcement of U.S. export controls.
The bill has support from several members of Congress, including Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI), Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on China, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), and Representative Josh Harder (D-CA).
Congressman Kean stated, “China and other foreign adversaries are actively working to circumvent U.S. export control laws and illegally obtain advanced American chips and other sensitive technologies. I introduced the StopStealingOurChipsAct to help authorities identify and mitigate those threats. By offering robust protections and meaningful financial incentives for whistleblowers with credible information, we can strengthen enforcement, prevent violations before they occur, and protect our national security.”
Congresswoman Johnson added, “America’s technological leadership is one of our greatest strategic advantages — and we cannot allow foreign adversaries to steal it, risking our national security. This is especially important in my district, home to Texas Instruments headquarters — one of the top semiconductor companies in the world — as well as Qorvo, which produces critical components for F-35s and other key defense technologies, and many more. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act is a commonsense, bipartisan step to protect our most sensitive supply chains and ensure that the innovations powering our economy and safety stay in American hands.”
Chairman Moolenaar commented, “Artificial intelligence is the defining technology of the new Cold War. Whether the U.S. or China wins this race will be determined in large part by who has more and better chips. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act will encourage those who witness chip smuggling to speak out while shielding them from retaliation. Whistleblowers who protect our national security deserve to be protected by our laws.”
Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi said, “I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to crack down on the smuggling of advanced U.S. chips to the Chinese Communist Party. A strong whistleblower program at BIS will help surface the facts we too often miss and ensure our export-control laws actually carry weight. Effectively enforcing our export controls is essential to protecting our national security.”
Chairwoman McClain stated, “The Stop Stealing our Chips Act is about protecting America’s technological edge and holding bad actors accountable. By cracking down on illegal exports and empowering whistleblowers, we will make sure U.S.-made AI chips strengthen our future, not our adversaries.”
Congressman Harder remarked, “U.S. chip leadership is the product of decades of American innovation and central to our economic and national security. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act is a common-sense measure to maintain this hard-won advantage and prevent China from using American technology against us.”
Recent reports have highlighted ongoing challenges with enforcing existing export control laws regarding advanced semiconductor technology sales abroad due to persistent violations involving diversion of American-made microchips into China.
The bill requires BIS to set up a secure public portal for whistleblower submissions; creates an incentive program rewarding individuals whose credible information leads to investigations or fines; provides confidentiality protections; offers anti-retaliation safeguards; allows both U.S. citizens and foreigners who provide actionable information leading to penalties against violators eligibility for 10-30% shares of any resulting fines—excluding known terrorists or federal employees acting within their duties.
A companion Senate bill was introduced earlier this year by Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Mark Warner (D-VA). In August 2025, Congressman Kean also co-introduced legislation aimed at modernizing BIS’s IT systems at the Department of Commerce.
Thomas Kean Jr., who represents New Jersey’s 7th district in Congress since 2023 after succeeding Tom Malinowski [source], previously served in both chambers of New Jersey’s legislature [source]. Born in Livingston in 1968 [source], he resides in Westfield [source].
