FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 11, 2000

CONTACT: RICH MILLS PHONE: 202-225-2305

House Overwhelmingly Approves Defense Authorization Legislation

DOD Conference Report Includes Dreier High Tech Amendment on Export Controls

WASHINGTON - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, today praised the House for voting overwhelmingly, 382-31, to approve the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report, FY 2001. The Conference Report included Dreier’s bipartisan amendment to streamline the Congressional review period for export controls on high speed computers, which passed the House, 415-8, in May and the Senate, 86-11, in July.

“This legislation is the result of tremendous bipartisanship in both Houses,” said Dreier. “I am proud that my amendment remained a part of this significant legislation. By streamlining the Congressional review period for export controls, we are giving our first class computer manufacturers the relief they need to compete and win in the global marketplace. The overwhelming support for this important amendment demonstrate how crucial it is to America’s tech leadership.”

The Dreier/Skelton/Gilman/Tauscher amendment was originally offered as an amendment to H.R. 4205, the National Defense Authorization Act, FY 2001. It was approved by wide, bipartisan margins in both houses. 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 a shortening of the waiting period for computer export controls has been a critical need of American’s computer industry, which is constantly pushing the technology envelope with a three month “innovation cycle.” It has been bipartisan priority, with both Texas Governor George W. Bush and President Clinton espousing their own proposals. Dreier pointed to this broad support both in and out of the Congress, 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.