A Missouri congresswoman wants to keep sensitive American technology out of the hands of foreign adversaries such as China.

U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner introduced legislation Tuesday called the Export Control Enforcement and Enhancement Act, the aim of which is to get the government to act faster in stopping “illicit networks” from breaking trade laws. 

“For nearly thirty years, the Department of Commerce’s Entity List has been a crucial tool in ensuring foreign adversaries do not gain access to sensitive American technologies and products,” Wagner said. “However, nations that wish to harm the United States are constantly changing their tactics, creating illicit networks to evade U.S. export controls.”

The Department of Justice highlighted these evasion tactics when it charged a Chinese national and two U.S. citizens recently. 

The suspects allegedly conspired to smuggle millions of dollars worth of export-controlled AI computer chips to buyers in China by using Thailand-based shell companies as fake purchasers.

Wagner’s bill would allow the state, defense and energy departments to quickly modify the list of dangerous foreign entities. The legislation places a time limit on adding or removing names from the Entity List.

“This much-needed legislation,” Wagner said, “will modernize our export control regime and streamline the ability of Departments of State, Defense, and Energy to quickly modify the list of foreign entities—ranging from governments to companies and research institutions—that pose a serious risk to our national security.

“By implementing a thirty-day clock on proposed additions, removals, or other modifications to the Entity List, our government will be able quickly address any efforts by our adversaries to cheat the system and obtain superior, American-made technology.”

Wagner introduced similar legislation in 2024 but it died in the Senate.