New Export Control Proposals Announced at Senate Aerospace Caucus Lunch
The second Senate Aerospace Caucus Lunch produced breaking news as National Security Advisor General James L. Jones announced sweeping changes proposed by the administration for export control modernization.
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| General Jones addresses the Senate Aerospace Caucus luncheon |
In his keynote speech, Jones detailed administration plans to create a new, more effective and flexible regime for controlling the export of technology that differentiates between items commonly available commercially and more sensitive items that require greater oversight than possible under today’s system.
Caucus co-chairs Senators Kit Bond and Patty Murray hosted the meeting June 30 with the theme Export Control Reform: U.S. National Security Policy for the 21st Century. The luncheon was attended by Senate members and staff, aerospace industry representatives and the news media. Also present were members of the Canadian Aerospace Caucus including the head of their parliamentary delegation, Mr. Claude Bachand, as well as representatives from the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, including their President and CEO, Claude Lajeunesse.
Senators Bond and Murray set the tone for the discussion, with Murray remarking, “U.S. national security and procurement policies represent some of the most burdensome restrictions affecting U.S. aerospace industry competitiveness.”
Gen. Jones addressed the senators’ concerns and went further. Most importantly, he announced the administration’s end goal of a new, single and independent agency that will merge export licensing activities at the State and Commerce departments under a board of directors reporting to the president.
AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey lauded Jones’ announcement, calling the proposals, “a major breakthrough for all of us striving for a more effective national export control system that strengthens our national security.”
Blakey told Jones that “it sounds like you’ve been listening to our companies, large and small, who are committed to a robust control system that puts the right-sized walls around all technologies. This is a common sense, national security-focused approach that will benefit our warfighters and this industry, which strives to support them every day.”
Blakey noted that another crucial step is passage of the UK and Australian Defense Trade Treaties, which carries broad bipartisan support. “For the sake of the American warfighter, our strategic allies and American aerospace workers – we need to make the system work for everyone,” Blakey concluded.
More specific information on the plan announced by General Jones can be found in a June 30 email from Blakey to members. AIA also has a new publication, “Ten Key Facts About Export Control Modernization” that can be found at AIA’s website: www.aia-aerospace.org.
AIA Source: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org
