H.R. 2683 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Jan 12, 2026. Received Jan 13, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExport controls expand to remote access
The U.S. government controls what technology and equipment can be sold or shared outside the country, especially items that have both civilian and military uses. This bill extends those same controls to cover situations where a foreign person accesses these controlled items remotely through the internet or cloud services, rather than in person. It gives the Commerce Department authority to issue licenses and enforce penalties when people try to remotely access controlled items from overseas.
How it affects you
If you work for a company that develops software, operates cloud services, or manufactures equipment with potential military applications, you may need to follow new rules about who can remotely access your systems and data. The official summary doesn't spell out how this affects everyday people directly.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Apr 7, 2025)
Remote Access Security Act
This bill broadens the scope of the U.S. export control system to include remote access of items. Remote access means (1) access to an item subject to the jurisdiction of the United States by a foreign person through a network connection, including the internet or a cloud computing service, from a location other than where the item is physically located; or (2) any other form of access specified in regulations promulgated by the Department of Commerce.
The Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA), which is implemented through the Export Administration Regulations, provides a permanent statutory basis for controlling the export of dual-use goods (e.g., items with both civilian and military uses) and certain military parts and components. This bill applies export controls under ECRA to remote access of items, thereby allowing Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security to issue licenses and impose penalties related to remote access of controlled items.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 2683
AN ACT
Remote Access Security Act
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY-17) · Introduced Apr 7, 2025 · Foreign Trade and International Finance · 3 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 13, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · Jan 12, 2026
Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 369–22
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 202 | 0 | 11 |
| Republicans | 167 | 22 | 28 |
22 members voted against most of their party: 22 Republicans voted No.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.