Washington, D.C.—U.S. House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.) today released the following statement in response to plans unveiled by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to reform America’s export control system:
“Republican members on the Armed Services Committee appreciate the Secretary’s efforts to improve and strengthen our nation’s export control system, and believe his efforts are necessary in an age when U.S. companies are so tightly interwoven within the international economic system.
“In particular, the Secretary’s proposal to create a single export-control list, single licensing agency, single enforcement-coordination agency and single information-technology system is a dramatic change to the current system. We need to ensure it results in greater protection and monitoring of key defense items and technologies.
“I look forward to working with Armed Services Committee Chairman Skelton to carefully study the Administration’s proposal through regular order and provide our members with an opportunity to hear from senior Administration officials, including those at the Department of Defense, and industry on how the Congress should proceed.
“At the end of the day, we must design a system that preserves our nation’s superior technological edge and allows U.S. businesses to compete in the international marketplace while continuing to place national security as the paramount factor in the export control system.”
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