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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7003 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7003
To authorize the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security
to appoint certain personnel in order to attract highly qualified
experts, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 9, 2026
Mr. Shreve (for himself and Ms. Kamlager-Dove) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in
addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security
to appoint certain personnel in order to attract highly qualified
experts, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``BIS Strategic Talent Recruitment to
Enhance National Guardrails for Technological Handling Act'' or the
``BIS STRENGTH Act''.
SEC. 2. ATTRACTING HIGHLY QUALIFIED EXPERTS TO BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND
SECURITY.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and
Security, in order to attract to the Bureau of Industry and Security
highly qualified experts in needed occupations (as determined by the
Under Secretary), may--
(1) conduct an annual study to identify specific gaps in
expertise at the Bureau that have been difficult to fill
through the civil service and constrain the Bureau's ability to
effectively fulfil the Bureau's mandate;
(2) notwithstanding any provision of section 3304 or
sections 3309 through 3318 of title 5, United States Code,
appoint personnel from outside the civil service (as defined in
section 2101 of title 5, United States Code) that have the
expertise identified pursuant to paragraph (1) to positions in
the Bureau of Industry and Security; and
(3) prescribe the rates of basic pay for positions to which
employees are appointed under paragraph (2) at rates not in
excess of the maximum rate of basic pay authorized for senior-
level positions under section 5376 of title 5, United States
Code, as increased by locality-based comparability payments
under section 5304 of that title, notwithstanding any provision
of that title governing the rates of pay or classification of
employees in the executive branch.
(b) Limitation on Term of Appointment.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
service of an employee under an appointment made pursuant to
this section may not exceed 5 years.
(2) Extensions.--The Under Secretary may, in the case of a
particular employee, extend the period to which service is
limited under paragraph (1) by not more than one additional
year if the Under Secretary determines that such action is
necessary to promote the national security or foreign policy of
the United States.
(c) Limitation on Total Annual Compensation.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of this section or of section 5307 of title 5, United
States Code, no additional payments may be paid to an employee under
this section in any calendar year if, or to the extent that, the total
annual compensation of the employee will exceed the maximum amount of
total annual compensation payable to the Vice President under section
104 of title 3, United States Code.
(d) Limitation on Number of Highly Qualified Experts.--The number
of highly qualified experts appointed and retained by the Under
Secretary under subsection (b)(1) shall not exceed 25 at any time.
(e) Report Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the
Under Secretary shall submit to the committees specified in
paragraph (2) a report that includes--
(A) a list of areas in which the Under Secretary
has identified specific gaps in expertise pursuant to
subsection (a)(1);
(B) the steps taken by the Under Secretary to
appoint personnel with expertise in such areas from
within the civil service during the period specified in
paragraph (3);
(C) the number of individuals appointed to the
Bureau of Industry and Security under the authority
provided by this section during the period specified in
paragraph (3);
(D) a description of the qualifications of such
individuals and their responsibilities during that
period; and
(E) a description of the impact of such individuals
on carrying out the mission of the Bureau of Industry
and Security.
(2) Committees specified.--The committees specified in this
paragraph are--
(A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform of the House of Representatives; and
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(3) Period specified.--The period specified in this
paragraph is--
(A) in the case of the first report required by
paragraph (1), the 180-day period preceding submission
of the report; and
(B) in the case of any subsequent report required
by paragraph (1), the one-year period preceding
submission of the report.
(f) Savings Provisions.--In the event that the Under Secretary
terminates the authority under this section, in the case of an employee
who, on the day before the termination of the authority, is serving in
a position pursuant to an appointment under this section--
(1) the termination of the authority does not terminate the
employee's employment in that position before the expiration of
the lesser of--
(A) the period for which the employee was
appointed; or
(B) the period to which the employee's service is
limited under subsection (c), including any extension
made under this section before the termination of the
authority; and
(2) the rate of basic pay prescribed for the position under
this section may not be reduced as long as the employee
continues to serve in the position without a break in service.
(g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to waive any requirement regarding background checks or
qualifications of applicants to positions with the Bureau of Industry
and Security.
(h) Termination.--The authority provided by this section shall
cease to be effective on the date that is 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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