[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 32 (Monday, February 29, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H1035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RENEGOTIATION OF WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT INTRUSION SOFTWARE CONTROLS

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today we learned of the Obama 
administration's decision to renegotiate a set of export controls that 
could have been hugely detrimental to our national security.
  I want to thank President Obama for his leadership on cybersecurity 
generally and specifically on this issue.
  In 2013, Wassenaar member states added intrusion software to the list 
of export-controlled products. While the addition was well-intentioned, 
since we certainly do not want companies making a profit selling 
hacking tools to repressive regimes, the language used was simply too 
broad and encompassed vital cybersecurity tools and even fundamental 
vulnerability research.
  The plan to renegotiate is the culmination of a months-long process 
involving industry, a number of agencies, and 124 of my colleagues in 
this Chamber.
  Mr. Speaker, I deeply appreciate the work of the Bureau of Industry 
and Security in shepherding this process and the National Security 
Council for pushing for its resolution.
  Now, we still have work to do with our international partners, but 
today is a validation of our ability to come together, government and 
industry, to address difficult challenges in cybersecurity policy. This 
is a good news story.

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