China Advanced Technology Monitoring Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5287

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2025-10-07T08:05:20Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The China Advanced Technology Monitoring Act (H.R. 5287) aims to enhance U.S. oversight of China's advancements in semiconductor manufacturing—a critical technology for electronics, computing, and national security—by mandating detailed annual reports. This helps inform U.S. policy to counter potential threats from China's growing capabilities in this field.

Key Provisions

• Reporting Requirement: The Secretary of Defense, working with other relevant federal agencies (such as those involved in intelligence or trade), must submit a report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
• Initial report due by May 1, 2026.
• Follow-up reports annually for a total of 5 years.
• Report Contents: The report must cover China's semiconductor manufacturing, including both cutting-edge (advanced-node) and older (mature-node) technologies. Specific elements include:
• Key findings on U.S. strategies to counter China, plus policy recommendations for Congress.
• Evaluation of China's internal manufacturing strengths.
• Analysis of China's government industrial policies and their results.
• Yearly progress updates on China's tech developments in semiconductors and AI chips, covering areas like design, research, materials, equipment, and packaging.
• Details on China's ties with other countries, including trade, investments, partnerships, and efforts to expand influence in global semiconductor supply chains.
• Examination of collaborations, joint ventures, or partnerships between China and foreign entities.
• Review of U.S. and allied export controls (rules limiting sales of sensitive tech to China), including their effectiveness against evasion tactics like loopholes, indirect investments, or supplier shifts.
• Assessment of whether these controls are still working to limit China's progress, with suggestions for improvements.
• Broader effects of China's potential dominance, such as risks to U.S. economic strength, global market position, and national security (both military and economic).
• Format and Public Access: Reports are unclassified but include a separate classified section with sensitive intelligence. The unclassified part (or a summary) must be posted on a public federal website, with a notice published in the Federal Register (a government journal for official announcements).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new, mandatory annual reporting mechanism focused specifically on China's semiconductor sector. It does not amend prior laws but builds on existing U.S. efforts, such as export control regulations under laws like the Export Control Reform Act, by requiring ongoing assessments and recommendations to strengthen them. No direct repeals or modifications to current statutes are specified.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Department of Defense and consulting agencies (e.g., Commerce or State Departments) in compiling intelligence-driven reports, potentially leading to more coordinated inter-agency efforts on tech security.
• On Citizens and Economy: Could indirectly benefit U.S. workers and businesses in the semiconductor industry by highlighting risks and prompting policies to protect jobs, innovation, and supply chains from foreign competition. May raise awareness of economic vulnerabilities tied to reliance on global tech.
• On International Relations: Strengthens U.S. scrutiny of China's global partnerships, which might influence diplomatic talks with allies (e.g., on joint export controls) or escalate tensions with China by publicly addressing its tech ambitions. Could encourage closer U.S. collaboration with partners like Taiwan, South Korea, or Europe in semiconductors.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government: Congress (Armed Services Committees for oversight), Department of Defense (lead reporter), and agencies like the intelligence community or Department of Commerce (for data input).
• U.S. Industry and Economy: Domestic semiconductor firms (e.g., Intel, NVIDIA) and related sectors, which may gain from policy insights to maintain competitiveness.
• China: Directly targeted, with its government and companies (e.g., SMIC) under review for capabilities and international ties.
• International Partners: Countries involved in semiconductor trade or alliances with the U.S. (e.g., Japan, Netherlands for equipment exports) or China, affecting their investment and collaboration decisions.
• General Public: Through public reports, citizens gain transparency on tech-security issues impacting daily tech use and national safety.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces executive branch duties under national security laws (e.g., requiring classified handling per intelligence protocols) without new enforcement powers. Ensures public access to unclassified info, promoting transparency under the Freedom of Information Act framework.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's oversight role in foreign affairs and defense (Article I powers), allowing lawmakers to check executive actions on tech policy without infringing on presidential authority.
• Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Reps. Vindman and Moylan) signals cross-party concern over U.S.-China tech rivalry, potentially fueling debates on trade restrictions or investments. May influence broader legislation like the CHIPS Act (which boosts U.S. chip production) by providing data-driven evidence for future bills.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

Cosponsors (2)

Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-09-10: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• China Advanced Technology Monitoring Act — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (4 pages)