Coalition Tells Congress Export Controls Need Improvement

The Coalition for Security and Competitiveness, WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. national security and economic strength rely in large part on efficient defense trade with our friends and allies, and a modernized export control system would provide a needed boost. 
 
That was the message John Douglass delivered for the Coalition for Security and Competitiveness to the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade on Thursday. Douglass, president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, spoke during a hearing titled “Export Controls: Are We Protecting Security and Facilitating Exports?” 
 
The coalition, which consists of 18influential trade and business organizations, has proposed changes in the administration of the export control system to make it more predictable, efficient, and transparent. Douglass said these improvements are a relatively easy way to see quick dividends. 
 
“The coalition put forward these proposals to initiate a dialogue on fresh approaches to managing the growing export license caseload, especially regarding the government's own defense programs,” Douglass said. “Amore modern system would free up time, people, and other resources to focus on complex licenses, or licenses of concern.” 
 
Subcommittee Chairman Brad Sherman and Ranking Member Edward Royce invited Douglass to speak on behalf of the coalition about the proposed improvements, which are under consideration by administration officials. The proposals are steps that can be taken to make the current system better without changing the existing framework. They entail 19 specific recommendations to improve the way both the departments of Commerce and State implement the system. 
 
Administration officials have reacted positively to the proposals, calling them “constructive.” 
 
The coalition, which represents thousands of businesses across the nation, is developing a second phase of the modernization that will include suggested legislative changes to revamp the system. 
 
High technology industries employ nearly 4 million workers in the U.S., and one in six manufacturing jobs depends on exports of manufactured goods. High technology also accounted for $345 billion, or 37 percent, of all U.S. exports of manufactured goods in 2006, according to Commerce Department figures.