Washington, DC – In response to the White House announcement today on steps taken under the Export Control Reform Initiative, Rep. Howard L. Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the following statement:

“The President’s export control reform initiative is making progress in meeting the goals of better protecting national security while strengthening America’s high technology sector and promoting job growth through increased exports. As Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I have advanced through the House significant improvements in the Arms Export Control Act, incorporated in H.R. 2410, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, to rationalize control policy for commercial satellites, streamline and establish benchmarks for license processing, expedite license processing for transfers to our closest allies and revamp Congressional oversight of licensing.”

“In addition, major progress has been made in drafting and building support in Congress for a complete modernization of the Export Administration Act, to provide a flexible authority to the President, refocus the system on counteracting today’s and tomorrow’s threats and break new ground by defining national security to include both control requirements and U.S. scientific and technological leadership. In the upcoming 112th Congress, these legislative initiatives should remain priorities with incoming House Republican leadership. The modernization of our export control systems is essential both to protect national security and foster U.S. technological leadership for U.S. economic growth.”