Moolenaar Backs Legislation to Incentivize Whistleblowers to Sound Alarm on Chip Smuggling

United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party
December 3, 2025
Press Release

Today, Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the Select Committee on China cosponsored the Stop Stealing Our Chips Act, bipartisan legislation designed to combat the smuggling of American-made artificial intelligence chips and other sensitive technologies into China. The bill would establish a whistleblower incentive program at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to support those who come forward and report export control violations.

The legislation was introduced by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ) and Congresswoman Julie Johnson (D-TX). It was also cosponsored by Select Committee on China Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), and Congressman Josh Harder (D-CA).

“Artificial intelligence is the defining technology of the new Cold War. Whether the U.S. or China wins this race will be determined in large part by who has more and better chips. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act will encourage those who witness chip smuggling to speak out while shielding them from retaliation. Whistleblowers who protect our national security deserve to be protected by our laws," said Chairman Moolenaar.

“I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to crack down on the smuggling of advanced U.S. chips to the Chinese Communist Party. A strong whistleblower program at BIS will help surface the facts we too often miss and ensure our export-control laws actually carry weight. Effectively enforcing our export controls is essential to protecting our national security," said Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi.

“China and other foreign adversaries are actively working to circumvent U.S. export control laws and illegally obtain advanced American chips and other sensitive technologies. I introduced the Stop Stealing Our Chips Act to help authorities identify and mitigate those threats. By offering robust protections and meaningful financial incentives for whistleblowers with credible information, we can strengthen enforcement, prevent violations before they occur, and protect our national security," said Congressman Kean.

"America’s technological leadership is one of our greatest strategic advantages — and we cannot allow foreign adversaries to steal it, risking our national security. This is especially important in my district, home to Texas Instruments headquarters — one of the top semiconductor companies in the world — as well as Qorvo, which produces critical components for F-35s and other key defense technologies, and many more. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act is a commonsense, bipartisan step to protect our most sensitive supply chains and ensure that the innovations powering our economy and safety stay in American hands," said Congresswoman Johnson.

"The Stop Stealing our Chips Act is about protecting America’s technological edge and holding bad actors accountable. By cracking down on illegal exports and empowering whistleblowers, we will make sure U.S.-made AI chips strengthen our future, not our adversaries," said Chairwoman McClain.

"U.S. chip leadership is the product of decades of American innovation and central to our economic and national security. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act is a common-sense measure to maintain this hard-won advantage and prevent China from using American technology against us," said Congressman Harder.

Specifically, the Stop Stealing Our Chips Act would: 

  • Require BIS to establish a secure, public portal for whistleblower submissions.
  • Create a whistleblower incentive program to reward individuals who submit original and credible information that leads to a formal investigation and the imposition of a fine.
  • Provide confidentiality protections and anti-retaliation safeguards for whistleblowers who report violations of U.S. export control laws.

Both U.S. and foreign citizens who provide actionable information leading to fines against violators could receive 10-30% of any resulting penalty, with exclusions for known terrorists and federal employees acting within the scope of their duties.

The full text of the House bill is available here. A Senate companion bill to the Stop Stealing Our Chips Act (S.1473) was introduced in April 2025 by Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Mark Warner (D-VA).