Richard Shelby: “I rise today in order to reiterate my concerns over the Export Administration Act of 2001. There is little doubt that…”

“I rise today in order to reiterate my concerns over the Export Administration Act of 2001. There is little doubt that this bill will pass. The writing is on the wall. However, with all due respect to the administration and to my colleagues on the Banking Committee, I have and will continue to oppose S. 149. Neither I nor Senators Thompson, Kyl, Helms or McCain desire to impede American business entities in their pursuit of new markets. I for one tend to agree with President Calvin Coolidge, who said that, 'The chief business of the American people is business.' Every Senator here today is an advocate for enhanced trade and for helping U.S. industry to export its goods and services. Exports bring prosperity to this Nation's companies and work to its citizens. If my advocacy for the U.S. technology industry were the sole basis upon which my decision on this legislation was to be based, I could easily change my past position and support passage of the Export Administration Act, or EAA as it is known. However, the other basis upon which the EAA should be measured is its effect upon the national security of the United States.”