Week ending May 19, 2000
ITI Praises Overwhelming Victory for One of it's Top Priorities
This week the House of Representatives approved, by a vote of 415 to 8, an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would shorten the waiting period from 180 days to 60 days before new rules governing computer export controls can take effect.
The amendment was offered by House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA), Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Ike Skelton (D-MO), International Relations Committee Chairman Ben Gilman (R-NY), and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), and was supported by Armed Services Chairman Floyd Spence (R-SC). The amendment was patterned after a bill introduced by Dreier and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), H.R. 3680, which would have reduced the waiting period to 30 days.
Senators Bennett (R-UT) and Reid (D-NV) are currently working on a companion amendment that is likely to be offered when the Senate considers the Defense Authorization Act the week of June 12th.
Working through the Computer Coalition for Responsible Exports, ITI has made changing the current computer export control regulations one of its top legislative priorities. This year the group has focused on reducing the 180 day waiting period to at most 60 days.
ITI Continues to Push for Final Passage
Both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee approved, with strong bi-partisan support, legislation to grant permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with China. The full House is expected to vote on the bill - currently scheduled for Wednesday, May 24th. In addition to approval in two key congressional committees, PNTR picked up support this week from Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) and from Governor George Bush (R-TX) -- who re-iterated his support during a speech in Seattle.
ITI continues its efforts to explain to Members of Congress how trade with China will benefit our economy, our consumers, and our workers. The group will continue meetings with undecided Members (totaling about 100) in the days leading up to the final vote next week.
ITI Views Proposal as Opportunity to Speed Time to Market and to Advance 1-1SDoC
Earlier this week, the Federal Communications Commission authorized release of proposed new rules that would reduce the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) involvement in setting criteria and approval of customer telephone equipment. The proposal put forth by the FCC would:
This rule making is a significant opportunity to advance ITI's goal of global product approvals based on One Standard-One Test, Supplier's Declaration of Conformity. When the formal notice of proposed rule making (NPRM) becomes available in the next few weeks, ITI will develop comments to the proposed rule.
ITI Praises Progress But Has Concerns with Provisions in Current Bill
The House Judiciary Committee this week approved, 18-11, H1-B Visa legislation developed by Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX). The bill would raise the cap on H1-B Visas from 115,000 to 200,000.
ITI continues to have reservations about some of the provisions contained in the bill but has pledged to work with all Members involved to get a bill that addresses the short term need to hire skilled workers but also helps prepare our students to compete in the digital world. The group has voiced support for the H1-B Visa bill introduced in the Senate by Senator Abraham (R-MI) and has endorsed the House bill introduced by Congressman Dreier (R-CA) and Lofgren (D-CA) - both bills would increase the cap to 200,000.
ITI Continues to Push for Legislation
The House and Senate conferees on digital signature legislation met this week. A compromise bill is being worked out with hopes of getting a bill ready for final passage before Congress leaves for the Memorial Day District Work Period.