IB
Union Calendar No. 443
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6029
[Report No. 112–610]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 27, 2012
Mr. Smith of Texas (for himself, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Watt, Mr. Coble, Mr. Berman, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Chaffetz, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Poe of Texas, and Mr. Chabot) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
July 19, 2012
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for increased penalties for foreign and economic espionage, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Foreign and Economic Espionage Penalty
Enhancement Act of 2012
.
Protecting U.S. businesses from foreign espionage
For offenses committed by individuals
Section 1831(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended, in the matter after paragraph (5)—
by striking
15 years
and inserting 20 years
; and
by striking
not more than $500,000
and inserting not more than
$5,000,000
.
For offenses committed by organizations
Section 1831(b) of such title is
amended by striking not more than $10,000,000
and inserting
not more than the greater of $10,000,000 or 3 times the value of the
stolen trade secret to the organization, including expenses for research and
design and other costs of reproducing the trade secret that the organization
has thereby avoided
.
Review by the United States Sentencing Commission
In general
Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission shall review and, if appropriate, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of offenses relating to the transmission or attempted transmission of a stolen trade secret outside of the United States or economic espionage, in order to reflect the intent of Congress that penalties for such offenses under the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements appropriately, reflect the seriousness of these offenses, account for the potential and actual harm caused by these offenses, and provide adequate deterrence against such offenses.
Requirements
In carrying out this section, the United States Sentencing Commission shall—
consider the extent to which the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements appropriately account for the simple misappropriation of a trade secret, including the sufficiency of the existing enhancement for these offenses to address the seriousness of this conduct;
consider whether additional enhancements in the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements are appropriate to account for—
the transmission or attempted transmission of a stolen trade secret outside of the United States; and
the transmission or attempted transmission of a stolen trade secret outside of the United States that is committed or attempted to be committed for the benefit of a foreign government, foreign instrumentality, or foreign agent;
ensure the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements reflect the seriousness of these offenses and the need to deter such conduct;
ensure reasonable consistency with other relevant directives, Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements, and related Federal statutes;
make any necessary conforming changes to the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements; and
ensure that the Federal sentencing guidelines adequately meet the purposes of sentencing as set forth in section 3553(a)(2) of title 18, United States Code.
Consultation
In carrying out the review required under this section, the Commission shall consult with individuals or groups representing law enforcement, owners of trade secrets, victims of economic espionage offenses, the United States Department of Justice, the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Department of State and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Review
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall complete its consideration and review under this section.
July 19, 2012
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
