Political Quotes

“this amendment amends section 6j of the Export Administration Act to require, upon the request of the committee, a more detailed notification to Congress of potentially dangerous U.S. exports to terrorist states. It is supported by Senators Helms and D'Amato. The notification requirement parallels section 36B of the Arms Export Control Act almost exactly. It also gives Congress the right to disapprove the licensing of such sales by joint resolution within 30 days of notification and explicitly defines export and transfer to include the reexport of controlled items. Mr. President, I could go into some detail here about the Boeing 727 jets transferred from Kuwait to Syria. Syria is a terrorist state, and the jets contain dual use items generally considered militarily useful. The State Department did not wish to notify Congress of this transfer of U.S. origin goods, but the Department of Commerce insisted. After consulting with congressional staff and meeting with almost universal disapproval of the transfer, State went ahead and, within hours, recommended to Commerce that they license the transfer. I believe this amendment has been agreed to on both sides. I urge its adoption.”