S. 5380 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Aug 7, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryDoubles statute of limitations for export violations
Export control laws stop U.S. companies and individuals from sending certain goods, technology, or services to other countries without permission. This bill would give the government twice as long to pursue legal cases for breaking these laws—extending the deadline from 5 years to 10 years for both criminal charges and civil penalties. It also clarifies that when the Department of Commerce formally notifies someone they're under investigation, that counts as the start of the legal process.
How it affects you
If you run a company involved in exporting goods or technology, this change means the government would have a longer window to investigate and take action against violations. Most people won't be directly affected unless they work in export-related industries or international trade.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Aug 7, 2026)
This bill extends from 5 to 10 years the statute of limitations for civil and criminal violations of U.S. export control laws. The bill also specifies that the commencement of an action, suit, or proceeding includes the issuance of a charging letter. (A charging letter is a formal notification by the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security that a company or individual is under investigation for an apparent violation of export administration laws or regulations.)
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.
2nd SessionS. 5380
A BILL
A bill to provide for a ten-year statute of limitations for export control violations under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018.
Sponsor: Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) · Introduced Aug 7, 2026 · Foreign Trade and International Finance · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Aug 7, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.”