The letter, shared exclusively with The Hill on Monday, argues the Chip Security Act would help the federal government detect when U.S.-made chips are diverted to adversaries.
The bill, first introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in May 2025, would direct the Commerce Department to require a "location verification mechanism" on AI chips subject to export controls.
Chip exporters would then be required to report to the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) if their products were diverted from the intended destination or tampered with.
ARI stressed that the bill would also have the Commerce Department evaluate the other safeguards needed to prevent theft or tampering of chips.
"Your endorsement of the Chip Security Act would send a clear message to America’s competitors like China, and adversaries like Russia and Iran looking to acquire some of America’s most powerful technologies: the United States will defend its technological edge and go after any illicit access to the advanced chips that power it," ARI President and former Rep. Brad Carson (D-Ariz.) wrote in the letter, dated Monday.
The White House has yet to take a stance publicly on the bill and did not respond to The Hill for comment by publication time.
Numerous reports over the past two years have indicated AI chips from U.S. companies like Nvidia were smuggled to China despite Washington's export controls.
During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington last month, he and Trump discussed AI, agreeing to launch new talks on the subject. They also agreed to establish a channel for handling AI-related incidents, and the first AI-specific talk is scheduled for November.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent proposed an AI safety notification system for Trump and Xi to consider during talks. Carson said ARI supports this system.
Carson said ARI supports the AI safety notification system.
