S. 2227Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

SPIES Act

Introduced July 9, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 11:36 PM UTC

The Strengthening Prosecution Integrity for Espionage Statutes (SPIES) Act removes any statute‑of‑limitations barrier for certain espionage‑related crimes. It lets federal prosecutors bring charges at any time for specified offenses, affecting anyone accused of those crimes and the agencies that would prosecute them.

Key Provisions

  • Eliminates the time limit for indicting or filing information on violations of 18 U.S.C. § 951 (espionage), § 794 (related espionage activity), and § 1425 (illegal procurement of citizenship or naturalization) when the conduct was meant to aid a § 951 violation.
  • Adds a new Section 3302 titled “Espionage offenses” to Chapter 213 of Title 18, stating the unlimited‑time‑frame rule.
  • Updates the table of sections for Chapter 213 to include the new Section 3302 (a clerical change).
  • Amends the Internal Security Act of 1950 to replace a reference to “, 793, or 794” with “or 793,” aligning it with the new limitation‑removal language.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

July 9, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 9, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

July 9, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 9, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2227

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 9, 2025

Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Rounds, and Mr. Lankford) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To eliminate the period of limitations for certain offenses, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Prosecution Integrity for Espionage Statutes Act or the SPIES Act.

2.

Offenses involving espionage, procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully, or harboring or concealing persons

(a)

In general

Chapter 213 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

3302.

Espionage offenses

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an indictment may be found or an information may be instituted at any time without limitation for—

(1)

a violation of section 951 or a conspiracy to violate such section;

(2)

a violation of section 794 or a conspiracy to violate such section; or

(3)

a violation of section 1425, if the offense was committed to facilitate a violation of section 951.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 213 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

3302. Espionage offenses.

.

(c)

Conforming amendment

Section 19 of the Internal Security Act of 1950 (18 U.S.C. 792 note; 64 Stat. 1005) is amended by striking , 793, or 794 and inserting or 793.