Remote Access Security Act

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently in_committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Last action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.Jan 13, 2026

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This bill expands the scope of federal export regulations to cover digital access to sensitive technology, meaning companies providing remote access to controlled items to foreign persons may now face new licensing or compliance requirements.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Technology and Cloud Service Providers

These companies may need to implement new compliance measures to monitor or restrict remote access to controlled items by foreign persons.

Foreign Nationals

Individuals located outside the U.S. may face new restrictions on their ability to remotely access sensitive U.S.-controlled technology.

Department of Commerce

The agency is tasked with promulgating regulations to define and enforce the new remote access controls.

What changed

Current stage: in_committee.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill updates federal export control laws to include 'remote access' as a regulated activity. It grants the government authority to monitor and restrict foreign persons from accessing sensitive U.S. items via internet or cloud networks from outside the physical location of the item.

Why It Matters

This bill expands the scope of federal export regulations to cover digital access to sensitive technology, meaning companies providing remote access to controlled items to foreign persons may now face new licensing or compliance requirements.

Key Facts

Defines 'remote access' as foreign person access to U.S.-controlled items via network connections, including the internet or cloud services, from a different physical location.
Amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to explicitly include 'remote access' alongside 'export' and 'in-country transfer' as a regulated activity.
Grants the Secretary authority to specify additional forms of remote access through future regulations.
Requires that remote access by foreign persons be subject to the same regulatory oversight as physical exports.
Updates multiple sections of the 2018 Act (sections 1752-1767) to ensure compliance, reporting, and enforcement mechanisms apply to remote access.
Expands the scope of prohibited acts and documentation requirements to include remote access activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this bill change?

It adds 'remote access' to the list of activities regulated under federal export control laws, meaning digital access to sensitive items by foreign persons is now treated similarly to physical export.

Who is considered a 'foreign person' under this bill?

The bill does not provide a new definition, but it applies the existing definitions found within the .

Does this affect cloud computing?

Yes, the bill explicitly includes cloud computing services as a method of remote access that can be regulated.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Voting Record

Outcome not reportedhouse1/12/2026voteview

Total

388

Yes

366

No

22

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

How they voted (388)

+ 364 more

Full roll-call analysis →

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Digital-Physical Parity

The bill signals a major policy shift toward treating digital access to technology as legally equivalent to the physical export of that technology.

Export Control Reform Act of 2018

Connected Entities

personMs. Crockett“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →

personMr. McCormick“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →

personMr. Huizenga“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →

otherExport Control Reform Act of 2018“The existing law being amended by this bill.”Map →

organizationCommittee on Foreign Affairs“The House committee to which the bill was referred.”Map →

personMs. Kamlager-Dove“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →

personMr. Lawler“Primary sponsor of the bill.”Map →

personMr. Moolenaar“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.congress.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level