CHARGE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7635

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-02-20: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2026-03-11T14:54:02Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The CHARGE Act (H.R. 7635) aims to protect the U.S. energy grid and national security by prohibiting the importation of certain energy storage systems manufactured in or linked to the People's Republic of China (PRC). It addresses concerns that these systems could include hidden remote monitoring features, allowing unauthorized access to critical U.S. infrastructure.

Key Provisions

• Import Ban: Prohibits any person from importing, or facilitating the import of, energy storage systems that contain remote monitoring capabilities if the technology is licensed or owned by PRC-based entities or those under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
• Energy storage system: Defined as any device, module, or product that stores electrical current for later use (e.g., batteries for power grids or renewable energy).
• Remote monitoring capability: Defined as any feature that can observe, collect, analyze, or disrupt data in information technology, communication, or critical infrastructure systems.
• Enforcement Regulations: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must issue rules within 60 days of enactment to identify and block prohibited imports. CBP will review and potentially add restrictions every 180 days and annually thereafter.
• Penalties for Violations: Knowingly importing prohibited systems can result in up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, applied per shipment.
• Reporting Requirements: The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretaries of Energy and Homeland Security, must submit an annual report to specified congressional committees on PRC-developed energy storage systems with remote monitoring in the U.S. Reports may include classified sections and end after 6 years.
• Appropriate congressional committees: Includes key House and Senate panels on energy, commerce, foreign affairs, and intelligence.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a targeted ban on specific energy storage imports from the PRC, building on existing U.S. export/import controls managed by the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security.
• Adds new enforcement tools for CBP, including mandatory regulations and periodic reviews, which were not previously specified for this category of products.
• Establishes novel reporting obligations focused on PRC-linked energy technologies, enhancing oversight without altering broader trade laws like those under the Trade Act of 1974.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases workload for CBP (enforcement and reviews), Department of Commerce (reporting and controls), and Departments of Energy and Homeland Security (consultations), potentially requiring additional resources for inspections and intelligence sharing.
• Citizens and Economy: May raise costs for U.S. energy projects reliant on imported storage systems, affecting renewable energy adoption and grid reliability, but aims to reduce security risks to everyday power supply and critical infrastructure.
• International Relations: Could heighten U.S.-PRC trade tensions by restricting Chinese exports in the energy sector, signaling stronger national security priorities in bilateral dealings, and possibly prompting retaliatory measures from China.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Importers and Businesses: Companies importing or using energy storage systems (e.g., utilities, renewable energy firms) face compliance burdens, potential supply chain disruptions, and legal risks.
• PRC Entities and Manufacturers: Chinese companies producing or licensing relevant technology will lose U.S. market access, impacting their exports.
• U.S. Government: Agencies like CBP, Commerce, Energy, and Homeland Security gain new responsibilities; congressional committees receive enhanced oversight.
• Consumers and Energy Sector: Indirectly affected through potential higher costs or delays in energy storage deployment, but benefit from improved grid security.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Relies on Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution) to regulate imports for national security, similar to prior bans on PRC tech (e.g., Huawei restrictions). Penalties align with federal customs laws but introduce shipment-specific fines, which could lead to litigation over enforcement clarity.
• Constitutional: Balances trade regulation with security needs, potentially raising due process questions if import identifications are overly broad, though definitions provide clear boundaries.
• Political: Reflects bipartisan concerns over PRC influence in critical infrastructure, advancing a "decoupling" strategy in U.S. energy policy. It may fuel debates on protectionism versus free trade, especially amid global pushes for clean energy transitions.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

Recent Actions

• 2026-02-20: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2026-02-20: Introduced in House
• 2026-02-20: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Countering Harmful Adversarial Rechargeable and Generative Energy Act — issued 2026-02-20 — PDF (5 pages)