FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2000

CONTACT: RICH MILLS PHONE: 202-225-2305

Dreier Praises Senate for
Passing Computer Export Amendment

Senate Ratifies Bipartisan Dreier-Skelton House Amendment That Streamlines Review Process

WASHINGTON - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, praised the Senate for voting today 86-11 to streamline the Congressional review period for export controls on high speed computers, the same bipartisan Dreier provisions the House overwhelmingly approved in May.

"America’s world class computer companies have cut their innovation time down to three months, and are constantly developing new and more advanced computer and computer chip technologies," said Dreier. "Our amendment streamlining the Congressional review period for export controls will give our nation’s computer leaders the relief they need to continue competing and winning in the global marketplace."

"Today’s Senate victory, when coupled with the overwhelming margin of the House vote in May, demonstrates how overdue the streamlined provisions are, and how important they are to America’s tech leadership," Dreier added, noting that the export control issue is particularly important to California. The Dreier/Skelton/Gilman/Tauscher amendment was offered as an amendment to H.R. 4205, the National Defense Authorization Act, FY 2001, and passed the House 415-8 on May 17^th .

The export control amendment shortens 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. By excluding the oftentimes long recess period during November and December (sine die), the new provisions ensure a responsible review period for Congress. Dreier pointed out that shortening the waiting period for computer export controls has bipartisan support from both President Clinton and Texas Governor George W. Bush.