[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN SUPPORT OF SECURITY AND FREEDOM THROUGH ENCRYPTION (SAFE) ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Maloney) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to speak 
in support of the Security and Freedom through Encryption, or SAFE, 
Act, which has been introduced in this session of the Congress and has 
been done so in support of the high technology industry which is so 
important to our economy and, therefore, to our country. Indeed, the 
high technology industry has already created and employs nearly 5 
million people across this great land. But the statistics do not show 
the whole story, for as much as the high tech industry directly adds to 
our economy, it adds even more indirectly. Advances in technology 
impact every other sector of our economy, be it retail sales or farming 
or manufacturing or whatever. The productivity increases that high tech 
has brought to us allow us to work better and faster, creating higher 
incomes and prosperity for all Americans. I think it is safe to say 
that high technology has been the most important development in our 
economy in the last 50 years. We need to continue to promote high 
technology. Part of the problem we face is that currently government 
imposes strict regulations on technology imports, such as encryption 
technology. The rationale behind these policies is that we should limit 
potential adversaries from acquiring top-notch technology, whether 
those adversaries be in the foreign affairs field or in criminal 
enterprises. In regard to encryption, this policy is outdated and needs 
rethinking. It is as a practical matter impossible to limit access to 
some of those technologies, especially when it is possible to purchase 
top of the line encryption technology through the Internet or from a 
foreign vendor. U.S. export controls on U.S.-created encryption do not 
restrict anyone's access to technology or to encryption devices, and 
instead cripples the U.S. technology industry's ability to grow, invest 
in research and development and continue to create the best technology 
in the world. That is a far bigger threat to our national security. Our 
national security fundamentally relies on the strength and 
competitiveness of our economy. Reforming encryption controls and 
passage of the Security and Freedom through Encryption, or SAFE, Act 
which I have cosponsored is a common-sense approach that levels the 
playing field for our industry in the world, without compromising 
America's national security interest. I urge its passage.

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