H.R. 9789 – Stop PRC Economic Espionage Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 23, 2026 at 10:52 AM UTC

The bill expands the definition of a foreign instrumentality under the economic espionage law to include companies or organizations that are based in foreign adversary nations. By doing so, it makes it easier to prosecute economic espionage cases involving entities located in those countries. The change primarily affects how the Department of Justice can charge and punish foreign‑linked economic espionage activities.

Key Provisions

Amends 18 U.S.C. § 1839 to add a new category (B) that treats any entity domiciled in a “covered nation” (as defined in 10 U.S.C. § 4872, i.e., a foreign adversary country) as a foreign instrumentality for the economic espionage prohibition.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

July 20, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 20, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

July 20, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 20, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9789

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 20, 2026

Mr. Moolenaar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend section 1839 of title 18, United States Code, to provide that an entity domiciled in a foreign adversary country is a foreign instrumentality for purposes of the prohibition on economic espionage under such section.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stop PRC Economic Espionage Act of 2026.

2.

Providing that an entity domiciled in a foreign adversary country is a foreign instrumentality

Section 1839(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking is substantially owned, controlled, sponsored, commanded, managed, or dominated by a foreign government; and inserting the following:

is—

(A)

substantially owned, controlled, sponsored, commanded, managed, or dominated by a foreign government; or

(B)

domiciled in a covered nation, as defined in section 4872 of title 10;

.