Washington, DC – Howard L. Berman (D-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following statement on Defense Secretary Gates’ speech regarding President Obama’s export control policy review.

“Today, Secretary Gates delivered a forceful rationale for revising our two export control systems. He described the President’s policy review, now underway to study options in three phases. I share the President’s and Secretary Gates’ goal of more effective controls that better address today’s – and tomorrow’s – security threats, while preserving our scientific and technological leadership. I support studying all the options for strengthening the two systems.

“I am preparing legislation to revise, modernize and strengthen our dual-use control system and am closely consulting with the President’s senior advisers. I expect to have legislation ready for committee and House action shortly.

“Secretary Gates also set forth his own vision of how the two export control systems might be fully merged. Should the President propose such a step later this year, I will carefully consider it.”