BIS STRENGTH Act

Download PDF
Bill ID: 119/hr/7003
Last Updated: April 23, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]

ID: S001229

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 42 - 2.

April 21, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. The BIS STRENGTH Act, a bill so cleverly crafted that it's almost as if they want us to believe it's actually about strengthening something other than their own self-interest.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of this bill is to create a new loophole for the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security to appoint "highly qualified experts" (read: cronies and donors) to positions within the Bureau of Industry and Security, bypassing the usual civil service requirements. Because, you know, the current system just isn't corrupt enough.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill allows the Under Secretary to conduct an annual study to identify "gaps in expertise" (code for "we need more yes-men"), appoint personnel from outside the civil service (because who needs experience or qualifications when you have connections?), and prescribe their own rates of basic pay (because why not?). It also limits the term of appointment to 5 years, with possible extensions (because they might need more time to loot the system). And, of course, there's a report required every year to ensure that everyone is doing a great job of pretending to care about national security and foreign policy.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The affected parties include the Under Secretary, who gets to appoint their friends; the "highly qualified experts" who get to cash in on their connections; and the taxpayers, who get to foot the bill for this latest example of bureaucratic nepotism. Oh, and let's not forget the committees that get to pretend to oversee this mess: the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** The potential impact of this bill is to further erode the already-tenuous notion of merit-based hiring in the federal government. It's a symptom of a deeper disease: corruption, cronyism, and a complete disregard for the public interest. The implications are clear: more waste, more abuse, and more opportunities for those in power to line their pockets at our expense. But hey, who needs accountability when you have "highly qualified experts" on the job?

In conclusion, the BIS STRENGTH Act is a perfect example of legislative malpractice. It's a bill that should be diagnosed with a severe case of " politician-itis," a disease characterized by an excessive desire for power, money, and ego-stroking, accompanied by a complete lack of regard for the public good. The prognosis? More of the same old corruption, incompetence, and waste that we've come to expect from our esteemed leaders. Joy.

Related Topics

Congressional Rules & Procedures Transportation & Infrastructure National Security & Intelligence State & Local Government Affairs Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Federal Budget & Appropriations Government Operations & Accountability Small Business & Entrepreneurship Civil Rights & Liberties
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$67,837
20 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$0
Individuals
$67,837

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

1
SASSO, APRIL
1 transaction
$6,600
2
PONDER, JACQUELINE
1 transaction
$3,437
3
KING, CHRISTOPHER M.
1 transaction
$3,300
4
CALDWELL, JORDAN
1 transaction
$3,300
5
DOPPELT, BRIAN
1 transaction
$3,300
6
KING, KYLIE A.
1 transaction
$3,300
7
SASSO, RICK C.
1 transaction
$3,300
8
SCHUMACHER, AMY MAE
1 transaction
$3,300
9
MCALLISTER, CHRIS
1 transaction
$3,300
10
ZINK, JAMES C.
1 transaction
$3,300
11
BARRETT, WILLIAM W.
1 transaction
$3,300
12
JONES, JERRY
1 transaction
$3,300
13
BEDEL, ELAINE
1 transaction
$3,300
14
ELWOOD, MARK
1 transaction
$3,300
15
JOHNSON, RICHARD L JR.
1 transaction
$3,300
16
MARTZ, GREG
1 transaction
$3,300
17
MILLER, TADD
1 transaction
$3,300
18
PRICE, FRANCIS
1 transaction
$3,300
19
KITTLE, JEFFREY
1 transaction
$2,500
20
LECHLEITER, SARAH L.
1 transaction
$2,500

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 5 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

ID: K000400

Top Contributors

10

1
SANTA ROSA RANCHERIA
Organization LEMOORE, CA
$6,600
May 12, 2024
2
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
Organization MARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Jan 16, 2024
3
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
Organization PALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Jun 30, 2023
4
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization LAKESIDE, CA
$2,000
Jun 30, 2024
5
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Apr 29, 2024
6
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 15, 2023
7
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$1,000
Apr 23, 2024
8
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Sep 30, 2024
9
BRUCE, CHERYL LYNN
SELF-EMPLOYED ACTOR
Individual CHICAGO, IL
$6,600
Jan 1, 2024
10
BRUCE, CHERYL LYNN
Individual CHICAGO, IL
$6,600
Jan 14, 2024

Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]

ID: W000795

Top Contributors

10

1
MAGELLAN HOUSING
Organization SUGAR LAND, TX
$1,500
Mar 27, 2024
2
UFCW LOCAL 1059
Organization COLUMBUS, OH
$2,500
Jun 15, 2024
3
CATAWBA INDIAN NATION
Organization ROCK HILL, SC
$2,000
May 6, 2024
4
LEHMAN, WILLIAM JR.
LEHMAN DEALERSHIP ENTERPRISES PRESIDENT
Individual MIAMI, FL
$5,000
Jul 18, 2024
5
LEHMAN, WILLIAM JR.
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,400
Aug 2, 2024
6
SANDBERG, SHERYL
NOT EMPLOYED PHILANTHROPIST
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
7
ARISON, MADELEINE
HOMEMAKER HOMEMAKER
Individual BAL HARBOUR, FL
$3,300
Mar 6, 2023
8
ARISON, MICKY
NOT EMPLOYED RETIRED
Individual BAL HARBOUR, FL
$3,300
Mar 6, 2023
9
LEHMAN, WILLIAM JR.
LEHMAN DEALERSHIP ENTERPRISES PRESIDENT
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Jun 28, 2023
10
MOISE, RUDOLPH
SELF-EMPLOYED PHYSICIAN
Individual DAVIE, FL
$3,300
Jul 18, 2024

Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]

ID: J000310

Top Contributors

10

1
RICHARD & PEGGY LARSEN FARMS
Organization DUBOIS, ID
$500
Oct 12, 2023
2
SUNSET TRUST
Organization FLOWER MOUND, TX
$104
Oct 25, 2023
3
SUNSET TRUST
Organization FLOWER MOUND, TX
$104
Oct 31, 2023
4
SOLE TERRA FARMING
Organization CHICO, CA
$100
Oct 13, 2023
5
M AND M FARMS PARTNERSHIP
Organization MONTROSE, AR
$50
Jul 26, 2024
6
TORK RENTALS
Organization WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI
$50
Jul 4, 2024
7
FAITH CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Organization ROSEMEAD, CA
$25
Aug 7, 2024
8
SANCIC FAMILY FARM LLC
Organization MAGNOLIA, OH
$1,650
Mar 30, 2023
9
GARY W. CAIN REALTY & AUCTIONEERS LLC
Organization EAST SPRINGFIELD, OH
$1,650
Jun 5, 2023
10
PORTER POMEROY LLC
Organization POMEROY, OH
$1,500
Mar 27, 2024

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

ID: L000599

Top Contributors

10

1
MURTAGH, COSSU, VENDITTI & CASTRO-BLANCO, LLP
Organization WHITE PLAINS, NY
$1,000
Feb 24, 2024
2
BATMASIAN, JAMES
INVESTMENTS LIMITED OWNER
Individual BOCA RATON, FL
$6,600
Sep 27, 2023
3
BATMASIAN, JAMES
Individual BOCA RATON, FL
$6,600
Sep 29, 2023
4
AUSTIN, ROBERT
UNAKA CO., INC. BUSINESSMAN
Individual DALLAS, TX
$6,600
Jul 18, 2024
5
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual SURFSIDE, FL
$6,534
Feb 15, 2024
6
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
Individual SURFSIDE, FL
$6,534
Feb 22, 2024
7
SCALA, MARY ELLEN
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual PORT CHESTER, NY
$5,300
Aug 27, 2023
8
DEUTSCH, SHMULEY
SELF PRESIDENT
Individual SPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,900
Jun 24, 2024
9
DEUTSCH, SHMULEY
Individual SPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,900
Jun 25, 2024
10
PERLMUTTER, RAFUEL
GOLDEN TASTE CEO
Individual SPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,400
Jun 24, 2024

Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

ID: S000344

Top Contributors

10

1
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND
Organization BANNING, CA
$2,000
Oct 30, 2023
2
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
Organization CHOCTAW, MS
$2,000
Oct 5, 2023
3
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Sep 30, 2024
4
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,300
Oct 21, 2024
5
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization LAKESIDE, CA
$1,000
Oct 28, 2024
6
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$700
Oct 21, 2024
7
AHMED, TAIMOOR
MARKHOR LOGISTICS CEO
Individual SACRAMENTO, CA
$3,300
Mar 30, 2023
8
GARHWAL, HARI
GARHWAL, CHAN & WILLIAMS CPA
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Mar 23, 2023
9
GARHWAL, HARI
GARHWAL, CHAN & WILLIAMS CPA
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Mar 23, 2023
10
GARHWAL, SANJEEV
WWMG PHYSICIAN
Individual SEATTLE, WA
$3,300
Mar 29, 2023

Donor Network - Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 39 nodes and 35 connections

Total contributions: $107,945

Top Donors - Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]

Showing top 20 donors by contribution amount

20 Individuals