Rep. Mackenzie introduces bill in U.S. House to set statute of limitations for export control violations

The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the U.S. House aims to establish clear time limits for prosecuting export control violations, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.8202 was introduced on April 6, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to establish a ten-year statute of limitations for civil and criminal actions related to export control violations. Specifically, it stipulates that any civil enforcement action, including the enforcement of fines or penalties, must be initiated within ten years of the violation date. Additionally, it requires that indictments for criminal offenses under the export control provisions must also be issued within ten years after the last occurrence of the violation. These changes aim to provide a clear timeframe for enforcement actions and prosecutions related to export control, thus enhancing predictability for individuals and entities subject to these regulations.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (Republican-PA-7th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Joaquin Castro (Democrat-PA-20th District).

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Mackenzie has introduced another 14 bills.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Ryan Mackenzie is a Representative from Pennsylvania, born in Allentown on August 2, 1982. He graduated with a B.S. from New York University in 2004 and an M.B.A. from Harvard University in 2010, and has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2012 to 2024.

Mackenzie was a staffer for U.S. Senator Pat Toomey in 2004 and worked at the United States Department of Labor in 2007. He was also the policy director for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and served as a delegate at the Republican National Convention in 2016. He was elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, beginning January 3, 2025.

Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.