Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that on Wednesday, April 24, he will convene a hearing to examine the process for reforming current U.S. controls on the export of arms and other items.  The hearing, entitled “Hearing: Export Control Reform: the Agenda Ahead,” will begin at 10 a.m.

In August 2009, President Obama directed a broad-based interagency review of the U.S. export control system, resulting in the Export Control Reform Initiative (ECR Initiative).  That plan took shape in April 2010 with a proposal to fundamentally restructure the system by ultimately creating a single export licensing agency, a single list of controlled items, a single information technology system, and a single export enforcement coordination agency.  The goal of the reform effort is to better tailor U.S. export controls to our national security interests, while helping industry compete in a global military marketplace.

Chairman Royce on the hearing:  “The U.S. has long maintained a  system of strategic export controls, restricting the commercial export of both arms and ‘dual-use’ items in order to advance our national security, foreign policy, and economic interests.  Over the years, the system has become out of step with our own national security requirements, the pace of technological innovation, and the nature of the global economy.  There is widespread agreement that our export control system needs fundamental reform.  This hearing will examine the agenda for advancing export control reform, including implementation of current Obama Administration proposals and prospects for additional reforms in the future.  The Committee, with broad jurisdiction over U.S. export controls, will  seek to strike the right balance among U.S. national security, American jobs and economic growth, and the health of the defense industrial base.”

What:
Hearing: Export Control Reform: the Agenda Ahead

When: 
10 a.m., Wednesday, April 24. 2013

Where:
2172 Rayburn House Office Building

***Live video feed available HERE

Witness List:

Mr. Thomas Kelly
Acting Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
U.S. Department of State

The Honorable Kevin J. Wolf
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration
Bureau of Industry and Security
U.S. Department of Commerce

Mr. James A. Hursch
Director
Defense Technology Security Administration
U.S. Department of Defense

***See foreignaffairs.house.gov for updates. 

***Coverage note:  All Foreign Affairs Committee proceedings are webcast live at foreignaffairs.house.gov/live-video-feed.

 

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