Harry Reid: “I have been very concerned for several months about the Senate not taking action on the Export Administration Act. It is…”

“I have been very concerned for several months about the Senate not taking action on the Export Administration Act. It is so important to this country that we keep up with the technology that is available and sell it overseas. I called the President's Chief of Staff yesterday and said it appeared the House was not going to act on the bill. They had simply given us an extension until November. That really does not help very much. So I asked the President's Chief of Staff, Andrew Card, if we can get a letter from the President indicating how important this was and that he would use whatever Executive powers he had at his control during this period of time when we are in a situation where companies cannot sell what they need to sell, and the President fulfilled that responsibility. I appreciate it very much. Condoleezza Rice said among other things: I am pleased that the Senate plans to take up S. 149 on September 4, 2001.”