H.R. 7003 — BIS STRENGTH Act

This section authorizes the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security (BIS), which administers and enforces U.S. export controls on dual-use items to protect national security and foreign policy interests, to (1) conduct an annual study to identify expertise gaps difficult to fill through civil service hiring; (2) notwithstanding standard competitive hiring requirements under 5 U.S.C. §§ 3304, 3309-3318, appoint up to 25 highly qualified experts from outside the civil service to BIS positions at rates up to the maximum senior-level rate under 5 U.S.C. § 5376 plus locality pay under § 5304; and (3) limit such appointments to five years, extendable by one additional year for national security or foreign policy needs. It caps total annual compensation for these experts at the Vice President's salary under 3 U.S.C. § 104 and requires reports to specified congressional committees (1) within 180 days of enactment covering the prior 180 days and (2) annually thereafter covering the prior year, detailing gaps identified, civil service hiring efforts, appointments made, qualifications and responsibilities, and mission impacts. The authority sunsets five years after enactment, with savings provisions preserving appointments and pay rates for incumbents until their terms end.