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U.S. Computer Industry Supports Dreier -
Lofgren Legislation to Shorten Waiting Period for New Export Control
Rules
Washington, D.C. -- The Computer Coalition for
Responsible Exports (CCRE) expressed its strong support for H.R.
3680, a bill introduced by Reps. David Dreier (R-CA) and Zoe Lofgren
(D-CA) that would shorten the current 6-month waiting period before
certain reforms in export control thresholds can take effect. The
bipartisan measure would reduce the waiting period to 30
days.
We want to thank David Dreier and Zoe Lofgren
for their work on an issue of great importance to U.S. computer
manufacturers," said Dan Hoydysh, Director of Trade Policy for
Unisys Corporation and Co-Chairman of CCRE. "Imposing a 6-month
waiting period before necessary export control reforms can take
effect puts our companies at a distinct disadvantage in the
international market. Six months is longer than the innovation cycle
of many of the products being controlled."
CCRE noted that
the power of widely available commercial computers continues to
increase dramatically. In mid 2000, when Intel`s Itanium
microprocessor-based systems come to market, the power of common 2
and 4 processor systems will more than double. As a result, the
recently announced export control thresholds will be outdated
shortly after they become effective.
"A thirty day waiting
period will allow the Executive Branch the flexibility to respond to
these technological advances in a more timely manner while still
providing Congress the opportunity to review proposed export control
reforms," said Rhett Dawson, President of the Information Technology
Industry Council (ITI) and Co-Chairman of CCRE. "The clock is
ticking. If America is to maintain its leadership role in the
computer industry, U.S. companies must be allowed to compete with
foreign computer companies. Undermining our ability to export widely
available business computers will threaten U.S. technological
leadership, and in turn, undermine U.S. national security. We urge
support for H.R. 3680."
CCRE is committed to promoting and
protecting U.S. national security interests, and seeks to work in
close partnership with the U.S. government to ensure that America`s
economic, national security, and foreign policy goals are realized.
Members of CCRE believe that a strong, competitive computer industry
is critical to U.S. national and economic security and contributes
significantly to U.S. economic and technological leadership.
CCRE members include Apple Computer, Inc., Compaq Computer
Corporation, Dell Computer Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Company, IBM
Corporation, Intel Corporation, NCR Corporation, SGI, Sun
Microsystems, Inc., Unisys Corporation, the American Electronics
Association (AEA), the Computer and Communications Industry
Association (CCIA), the Computer Systems Policy Project (CSPP), the
Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), and the Information Technology
Industry Council (ITI).
For more information about CCRE and
the issues surrounding export controls, visit the CCRE website at:
www.ccre.net.
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