Bill · S. 5024· Senate(119-S-5024)
Stop PRC Economic Espionage Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 7/16/2026
- Last activity
- 7/16/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- John Cornyn
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Stop PRC Economic Espionage Act of 2026. It was introduced in the Senate by Mr. Cornyn and Mr. Cotton on July 16, 2026. The legislation amends title 18 of the United States Code. Its main purpose is to change how the law defines a foreign instrumentality regarding the prohibition on economic espionage. Specifically, it expands the definition to include certain entities based in foreign adversary countries. The bill was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this make patent and copyright rules fairer?+5
Safeguards domestic technology and intellectual property from foreign state-backed economic espionage.
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?+4
Enhances national security by strengthening legal definitions and enforcement against economic espionage from foreign adversaries.
Would business owners be better off under this?+3
Helps protect businesses from unfair theft of trade secrets by foreign adversary entities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Strengthens Economic Security: Section 2 updates the definition of a foreign instrumentality for economic espionage prohibitions. By including any entity domiciled in a covered nation under section 4872 of title 10, the bill ensures that companies based in these specific foreign adversary countries are clearly categorized under economic espionage laws, which helps protect American trade secrets and technology.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Lack of Explicit Text for Negative Impacts: Based strictly on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that outline negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Education And Technology
- Improves Intellectual Property Fairness+5
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+4
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+2
- 7/16/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tom CottonRepublican · Arkansas