[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8076-S8077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       EFFECTIVE EXPORT CONTROLS

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I wish to call attention to an important 
Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on export controls held last 
week.
  In August 1998, the Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee 
requested the Inspectors General of the Departments of Commerce, 
Defense, Energy, State, and Treasury and the Central Intelligence 
Agency to conduct a review of their export license processes and to 
follow-up on an earlier set of reports that were done in 1993.
  In their reports and at the hearing, the Inspectors General raised a 
number of important issues which, I believe, will require further 
oversight and clarification. These issues are especially important in 
light of the recent Cox Committee Report which highlighted espionage 
activities at our National Laboratories and the release of classified 
nuclear information. As we begin to debate the reauthorization of the 
Export Administration Act, the recommendations made by the Inspectors 
General should be considered in this context.
  The Inspectors General concluded that the export control processes 
work relatively well, but they also highlighted additional issues that 
the Congress should continue to monitor. Certain of these issues 
include:
  Inadequate monitoring by our National Laboratories of foreign 
visitors, who may be exposed to controlled technology which may require 
an export license.
  Inadequate analysis by all of the agencies of the cumulative effect 
of dual-use and munitions list exports to a particular country or end-
user.
  Need to upgrade certain computer systems used in the export process.
  Improve monitoring of conditions placed on licenses to ensure that 
sophisticated items are not diverted.
  Enhance the processes for pre-license checks and post-shipment 
verifications of certain exports.
  Enhance training and guidance of Licensing Officers.
  I look forward to the Governmental Affairs Committee holding further 
hearings on this subject. We must ensure that the United States 
maintains an efficient and effective export control system. Further, 
our additional oversight on this issue will help ensure that exports of 
dual-use and munitions items will not go to rogue nations or 
individuals.

[[Page S8077]]

  Our hearing last week raised important national security and 
proliferation issues, and I commend Senator Thompson and Senator 
Lieberman, the ranking member of the Governmental Affairs Committee, 
for their leadership.

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