Political Quotes

“I stand in opposition to the amendment offered by my dear colleague, Mrs. Torres, that prohibits the President from removing any items listed in categories 1, 2, and 3 of the U.S. Munitions List. One of the first Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearings this year was a review of a large interagency process to modernize the United States Munitions List to ensure the State Department retained oversight over only the most critical defense articles with military end-use. The decision to transfer certain defense articles and services from State to Commerce had strong, bipartisan support but got caught up in a debate that had nothing to do with export control reform. The process to move certain defense articles has already begun. In fact, here are just some of the categories of weapons that have already moved to Commerce licensing controls: launch vehicles and missiles, explosives, military aircraft, submersible vessels, tanks, and the list goes on. Once again, these defense articles have already moved to Commerce control. This rule change should be finalized. After years of input from both sides of the aisle to make the change from State to Commerce, there is no reason this decision, which started in the last administration, needs to be delayed any longer. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”