Rep. Ellen Tauscher Commended for Her Efforts to Promote American Jobs and National Security

Washington, DC - This week, Chairman of the Strategic Forces Committee of the Armed Forces Committee, Rep. Ellen Tauscher received the Satellite Leadership in Government Award from the Satellite Industry Association.

The award recognizes those in government who have done the most to modernize our nation’s export control laws to recognize the dynamic role that satellite technologies play in the nation’s economy, video distribution, and national and homeland security.

“I am deeply concerned that the current export control system is broken; harming both our national security and our economy,” said Rep. Tauscher.  “We need a thorough scrub of the munitions list that attempts to control all dual-use items and remove dated, non-sensitive and foreign available items. We need one agency to handle licensing and we need to facilitate defense trade and technological cooperation with our allies – not hamstring it.  It is time for Congress to begin a serious debate on how we can improve our current regime”

Also receiving the award this year is Maj. Gen. James B. Armor (Director, of the National Security Space Office). Previous recipients of the Satellite Leadership in Government Award include Senator Ted Stevens (2006) and Admiral James O. Ellis Jr., former Commander of US Strategic Command (2005).