FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2000

CONTACT: RICH MILLS PHONE: 202-225-2305

House Overwhelmingly Approves Dreier Amendment on Computer Export Controls

WASHINGTON - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, today praised the House for voting overwhelming, 415 - 8, to approve his bipartisan amendment to streamline the Congressional review period for export controls on high speed computers.

"America’s computer industry is constantly reinventing itself. They push the technology envelope with a three month ‘innovation cycle’ that has computer and chip performance improving by leaps and bounds," said Dreier. "Streamlining the Congressional review period for export controls will give our first class computer manufacturers the relief they need to compete and win in the global marketplace. This overwhelming vote shows how overdue this streamlining is, and how important it is to America’s tech leadership."

The Dreier/Skelton/Gilman/Tauscher amendment was offered as an amendment to H.R. 4205, the National Defense Authorization Act, FY 2001. The amendment will shorten the waiting period from 180 days to 60 days for Congress to review a proposed adjustment in the performance level that defines high-speed computers and excludes any days in which the House or Senate is in sine die adjournment.

Dreier noted that shortening the waiting period for computer export controls has been a bipartisan priority, with both Texas Governor George W. Bush and President Clinton on board with their own proposals. Today he praised the hard work of, and compromise between, the House Armed Services Committee, the House International Relations Committee, and high tech policy leaders in and out of the Congress, for developing an amendment that enjoyed such strong bipartisan support. He pointed to this broad support as evidence that a proper balance was reached between appropriate national security concerns and an export control policy that recognizes the speed of technology change.

"I want to particularly recognize the leadership of Chairman Ben Gilman, Ranking Member Ike Skelton, Ellen Tauscher , and others who have stepped forward to develop a rational policy to allow export controls to keep pace with technological change," Dreier added.