Chairman Mast, HFAC, advances AI Overwatch Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced the AI Overwatch Act as part of a full committee markup.
The bill, which was introduced last month by Chairman Brian Mast, ensures congressional oversight keeps pace with advancing technology, blocks adversary militaries from accessing weapon-enabling AI, and anchors allies and partners to American AI systems. It codifies important national security requirements in the Commerce Department’s recent H200 rule.
"Companies like Nvidia are requesting to sell millions of advanced AI chips, which are the cutting edge of warfare, to Chinese military companies like Alibaba and Tencent. These are the same companies that work to spy against the United States of America, companies that the Chinese Communist Party uses to try and defeat the United States." said Chairman Mast. "This bill is very simple. It keeps America's advanced AI chips out of the hands of Chinese commie spies."
Advanced AI chips are dual-use technologies powering military command and control, surveillance, cyber operations, nuclear weapons development, and autonomous weapons. Without strong security conditions, the same computing power that drives innovation could be turned against U.S. and allied military forces.
This bill applies long-standing congressional oversight to exports of America’s sensitive, military-enhancing AI chips. Since 1976, Congress has reviewed foreign arms sales that threaten U.S. national security. The principle is clear: technologies that shift military power require congressional oversight.
The measure currently has 15 cosponsors and has received broad support from industry groups including the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Action, American Compass, Americans for Responsible Innovation, the American Security Fund and Exiger.
Original cosponsors include House China Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar, House Foreign Affairs South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga, House Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee Chairman Keith Self, House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence National Security Agency and Cyber Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood.
In addition to AI Overwatch, the committee advanced XX measures as part of the markup.
The full list of includes:
H.R. 6875 - AI OVERWATCH Act
H.R. 6275 - China AI Power Report Act
H.R. 7036 - Data Driven Diplomacy Act
H.R. 7028 - To require the Secretary of State to submit a notification to Congress prior to obligating funds for certain art-related purchases, and for other purposes
H.R. 6411 - Preshevo Valley Discrimination Assessment Act
H.R. 7054 - To require the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a notification of certain construction projects using nonstandard designs
H.R. 4532 - American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act
H.Res. 515 - Commemorating the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on July 6, 2025, as "A Day of Compassion", and expressing support for the human rights, religious freedom, and cultural and linguistic protection of the Tibetan people.
H.R. 4368 - Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act
H.R. 3307 - Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act
H.R. 7052 - Conflict Prevention Act
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