[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 OPPOSITION TO THE PROVISION IN THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL RELATED 
          TO SATELLITE CONTROLS UNDER THE U.S. MUNITIONS LIST

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                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 1998

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon, I voted NO on the 
Fiscal Year 1999 Defense Authorization Bill for a number of reasons, 
the most pressing is the policy included in the bill under Section 
1513, that concerns American satellite and rocket cooperation with 
communist China.
  After months of personal investigations, as Chairman of the House 
Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, I disclosed on the House 
floor evidence indicating that some U.S. aerospace companies had helped 
China upgrade its rocket system. In a cooperative effort to launch 
American satellites, technology and knowledge has been transferred that 
improved China's ability to land a nuclear weapon in the United States, 
including those with multiple warheads.
  Since making this charge on the floor of the House, a Select 
Committee has been appointed to thoroughly investigate the issue. Under 
Congressman Chris Cox's leadership, that committee is now underway. 
From what I understand, it has verified much of what I originally 
charged. This legislation, Section 1513, however, is letting those who 
betrayed America off the hook by giving them six months to complete 
their projects and to apply for new export licenses during that 
period--until March 1999--that would be excluded from national security 
control under the United States Munitions List.
  Do we hold U.S. security that lightly that we are willing to give one 
of the most ruthless communist regimes on this planet the technology to 
further develop weapons systems that could incinerate our country?

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