Mike Thompson: “I would like to address S. 149. I believe my colleagues who have spoken are correct in that they have substantial…”

“I would like to address S. 149. I believe my colleagues who have spoken are correct in that they have substantial support for this legislation. I do not doubt they have a majority of the Democrats and a majority of the Republicans. I do not doubt they have the support of the administration. My understanding was that the President made a campaign statement or commitment with regard to this issue during the last campaign. President Clinton made the same commitment during his campaign for President. The President had a group of high-tech executives to the White House, just as President Clinton did, to promote this sort of legislation. My colleagues are correct in that the President now supports essentially a continuation of the Clinton policy with regard to the liberalization or loosening of our export controls law. I disagreed with it when President Clinton was President. I disagree with it now. While we need an Export Administration Act and while we need to take into consideration commercial circumstances and changes in the world, I think the balance between our national security interests and our commerce interests is not there.”