ACCESSION
NUMBER:348923
FILE ID:ECO303
DATE:06/15/94
TITLE:RIVAL EXPORT-CONTROL BILL WOULD GIVE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ROLE (06/15/94)
TEXT:*94061503.ECO ECEXPLD EXP CONTRLS /js
RIVAL EXPORT-CONTROL BILL WOULD GIVE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ROLE
(Existing law expires June 30) (430)
By Bruce Odessey
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- The House of Representatives Armed Services Committee has
approved export-control legislation somewhat more restrictive than a bill
approved earlier by another House committee.
Congress' pace on this legislation is picking up now that few days remain
before the existing Export Administration Act (EAA) expires June 30.
The committee in the House with original jurisdiction, Foreign Affairs, had
approved a bill that would effectively eliminate Defense Department
influence on export controls relating to dual-use items -- technology and
goods that have both military and civilian applications.
Export controls on weapons themselves are covered by another law.
In its June 15 session, the Armed Services Committee produced a rival bill
that would restore and in some cases expand the Defense Department's role.
Where Foreign Affairs would give the Commerce Department sole authority to
make the list of controlled items, Armed Services would require Defense
Department participation as well as expand Defense's authority to include
controls on chemical and biological weapons and missiles.
Where Foreign Affairs would strip the Defense Department's authority to
participate in ordinary export license reviews, Armed Services would
restore and expand that authority.
Under current law, reviews of exceptionally sensitive export license
applications cannot exceed 120 days in most circumstances. Foreign Affairs
would reduce that cap to 30 days, giving the Defense Department 10 days of
that. Armed Services would reduce the cap to 50 days, giving Defense 30
days.
Armed Services' version would also delete a provision of Foreign Affairs'
bill limiting unilateral U.S. controls unless they were quickly adopted by
multilateral regimes.
The Foreign Affairs Committee version of the bill is strongly supported by
exporters. Foreign Affairs will have to work out its differences over the
legislation with the Armed Services Committee as well as with the House
Select Intelligence Committee.
The Intelligence Committee was working up its own version of the bill behind
closed doors June 15. Its members were known to be unhappy with Foreign
Affairs' provision relaxing export controls on computer software with
encryption capability.
1
Relaxation on encryption controls was strongly opposed by the Clinton
administration's National Security Agency as well.
If members could work out their differences to get a bill passed in the
House, they would still have to work out the differences with any bill
passed by the Senate.
In May the Senate Banking Committee approved an EAA bill much more to the
Clinton administration's liking; the full Senate has not yet acted on it.
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