S.Amdt. 6675

This amendment seeks to add a new title to bill S. 4784 focused on Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) Supply Chains. Its primary purpose is to establish a formal government structure to oversee and secure the supply chains of technology and communications services within the United States.

The amendment aims to add the following to the bill:

• New Leadership and Office: It creates the position of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Information and Communications Technology Supply Chains and establishes the Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services within the Bureau of Industry and Security.

• Regulatory Authority: It gives the Secretary the power to create regulations to identify and prohibit "covered ICTS transactions." These are transactions involving technology or services from a country of concern (China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russia) that pose risks such as sabotage, threats to critical infrastructure, or risks to national security.

• Enforcement and Penalties: It establishes strict penalties for violations, including:

  • Criminal penalties: Up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $1,000,000.
  • Civil penalties: Fines of at least $1,500,000 or 5 times the value of the transaction.

• Oversight and Review: It requires the Office to make information available to specific congressional committees and mandates annual reports on its actions. It also sets a 5-year termination date for these specific authorities.