[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 4276

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Harman] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. HARMAN. Madam Speaker, my highest priority as a Member of 
Congress is retaining and building high-skill, high-wage jobs in 
California's South Bay. This area is the heart of California's 
aerospace industry, and if we are going to rebuild its employment base, 
we must promote commercial industries that draw on California's defense 
facilities and skills. Today I have joined with my California 
colleague, Congressman Howard Berman, to introduce H.R. 4276. This bill 
will streamline the process for exporting commercial communications 
satellites many of which are built in southern California.
  H.R. 4276 will help build jobs in southern California by simplifying 
export licensing procedures for commercial communications satellites. 
It completes a process that was initiated by the Bush administration by 
shifting jurisdiction over these licenses from the State Department to 
the Commerce Department. This transfer applies to exports to all 
customers, and does not favor or promote sales to any particular 
country.
  I want to emphasize that this bill does not undercut our missile 
nonproliferation policy. The State Department retains jurisdiction over 
the export of individual components that are exported as individual 
end-use items. And, under our proposed legislation, the Commerce 
Department must consult with the State and Defense Departments about 
license applications for complete communications satellites. Any 
systems designed or modified for military use will remain under State 
Department control.
  Madam Speaker, communications and information services are vital 
export industries. United States manufacturers currently have an 
advantage in the highly competitive international satellite market, but 
government and industry must work together if we are to maintain our 
technological and market leadership. This bill will help our satellite 
manufacturers compete abroad, and will create new commercial 
opportunities for those manufacturers that are seeking to diversify 
away from defense sales. It will promote our economic and our national 
security, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

                          ____________________