Anna Eshoo: “the export control amendments in H.R. 4200 will limit Presidential authority to effectively promote U.S. national…”

“the export control amendments in H.R. 4200 will limit Presidential authority to effectively promote U.S. national security and will hobble the U.S. information technology industry by preventing it from selling commodity commercial products to our allies. This bill requires an export license for all exports of goods and technologies on the Military Critical Technologies List to all countries. This legislation would roll back export controls on computers below the levels implemented five years ago--thus preventing our technology industry from exporting computing products that are a few generations old. This amendment is so broad that it would immediately require export licenses for exports of things such as laptop and desktop computers, which can't possibly serve any national security interest. By passing this amendment, we are immediately cutting off American manufacturers from customers around the world, including key export markets such as Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. The amendment is so arbitrary, and the list so outdated, that it bears no rational relation to U.S. national security, and threatens to derail America's economic recovery. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to protect our critical technology industry and vote against H.R. 4200.”