Dick Lugar: “I commend Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain, our distinguished Armed Services Committee leaders, for their…”

“I commend Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain, our distinguished Armed Services Committee leaders, for their amendment regarding the problem of counterfeit parts, Senate amendment 1092, which was agreed to, as modified, last Tuesday. The amendment establishes a prudent framework for countering the dangerous infiltration of counterfeit parts into our defense supply chain. I also want to commend Senator Whitehouse for his work on this important issue. The amendment would create criminal penalties for those trafficking in counterfeit parts so as to ensure that our Armed Forces have the best equipment from trusted suppliers in order to carry out their critical roles and missions. It would also significantly strengthen our supply-chain management to detect and prevent surreptitious attempts to supply our Armed Forces with counterfeit parts and components. I have followed the hearings in the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding these matters. I wanted to take time today to raise in relation to the amendment a problem that I believe could complicate its enforcement. If we truly intend to grow our economy through exports, then we ought to pay attention to any risks that may stem from liberalizing our present export controls so as to ensure that our industrial base benefits--and not those who deal in counterfeit parts and components in other nations.…”