Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

BIS License Fee Prohibition Act

Summary

The BIS License Fee Prohibition Act aims to eliminate fees associated with export licenses issued under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. It mandates the return of any such fees collected to the license holders. The bill cites Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution, which prohibits taxes or duties on exported articles.

Expected Effects

The immediate effect will be the cessation of export license fee collection and the reimbursement of previously collected fees. This could reduce the financial burden on businesses involved in exporting goods and technologies. It may also impact the Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) funding and operations.

Potential Benefits

  • Reduced costs for exporters, making U.S. goods more competitive.
  • Simplification of the export licensing process.
  • Potential boost to export-related industries.
  • Reinforcement of the constitutional principle against export taxes.
  • Increased financial predictability for businesses involved in international trade.

Potential Disadvantages

  • Potential reduction in funding for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
  • Possible need to find alternative funding sources for BIS operations.
  • Risk of reduced efficiency in processing export licenses if BIS resources are constrained.
  • Uncertainty regarding the long-term impact on export control enforcement.
  • Potential for unintended consequences related to national security if export controls are weakened.

Constitutional Alignment

The bill aligns with Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits taxes or duties on articles exported from any state. The bill's findings directly reference this constitutional provision. By eliminating export license fees, the act reinforces this constitutional principle.

Impact Assessment: Things You Care About

This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).