BIS IT Modernization Act

The BIS IT Modernization Act would require the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the Commerce Department to modernize its information technology systems and applications on an ongoing basis through fiscal year 2030, funded with annual appropriations of $25 million from 2026 to 2029. The bill directs BIS to replace its legacy systems with a unified IT environment, including a seamless customer relationship management (CRM) platform and analytics capable of processing data from external providers. It emphasizes using advanced data fusion, analytics, and decision-making tools to streamline export license adjudication, assess global industrial relationships, and strengthen enforcement related to military end users, end uses, and shell companies. The bill also seeks to expand secure data sharing with industry, other federal agencies (including the intelligence community), and international partners, and to expedite deliberations on key trade control lists. In addition, the bill pushes BIS to map and analyze foreign defense and industrial bases—especially China’s military-civil fusion strategy—and to map commercial linkages among the PRC, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and other countries of concern. It envisions progressively incorporating AI/ML tools as technology evolves and requires BIS to assess workforce needs and consult with Congress about staffing. The act also lays out criteria to evaluate proposed IT solutions for productivity, cost, security, data sharing, and user experience before adoption.