William Helms: “I feel obliged to voice my strong opposition to S. 149, the pending Export Administration Act of 2001. I do this because…”

“I feel obliged to voice my strong opposition to S. 149, the pending Export Administration Act of 2001. I do this because this bill does not protect the national security of the American people. It does not control the export of our most sensitive dual-use items. It does not promote U.S. foreign policy. Instead, this is an indiscriminate trade promotion bill, and I am obliged to state that I am troubled by the fact that this bill, S. 149, was written in fact, by the business community to maximize future sales to Communist China, and to other such countries that represent the highest risk of technology diversion and proliferation. Make no mistake about it, this legislation will enable dangerous regimes around the world to arm themselves through the use of the best dual-use technology America has to offer. This bill's sponsors argue that because the cold war is over, the world is a much safer place and that we need to rid ourselves of outdated export controls that inhibit trade and harm the economy. These Pollyannas could not be more mistaken.”