A Briefing on Export Control Reform Initiative (ECR) with Senior Officials from the Defense, Commerce, and State Departments
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 1:00 PM at
1539 Longworth HOB
Dear Colleague:
We invite you to attend a briefing by senior officials from the Departments of Defense, State, and Commerce, as well as the White House National Security Staff, on the Export Control Reform Initiative (ECR). The briefing will take place on September 11, 2012, in 1539 Longworth House Office Building at 1:00 PM.
Since August 2009, these three lead Cabinet-level departments have been working on proposals to modernize the U.S export control system while still protecting national security. Antiquated export control laws and regulations, spread across more than seven government agencies, confuse U.S. exporters in dealing with compliance responsibilities. The current system also leads to unnecessary delays in licensing decisions and weakens the ability of U.S. companies to compete in international markets.
The ECR will have the added benefit of strengthening our national security by increasing interoperability with our allies and redirecting precious budgetary and personnel resources to prevent truly cutting-edge technology from falling into the wrong hands. The ECR will also allow U.S. small- and medium-sized manufacturers to cultivate a U.S. defense industrial base for the 21st Century. We cannot continue to hamper the ability of U.S. small- and medium-sized manufacturers to compete overseas with overly complex, unclear regulations, and needless delay that harms our defense industrial base and could impair our own security needs.
The ECR initiative has broad support in the private sector—from the Heritage Foundation to business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Aerospace Industries Association, the Business Roundtable, and the Satellite Industries Association.
We encourage you to attend this briefing to learn about how U.S. export controls affect your district and how the plans of the Departments of Defense, State, and Commerce to modernize the U.S. export control system will benefit your constituents. Please contact Vineet Rajan at vineet.rajan@mail.house.gov or Elaine Wilson at elaine.wilson@mail.house.gov with any questions.
Sincerely,
Tim Ryan Donald Manzullo
Member of Congress Member of Congress
