Export Administration Measure Extended.

• Author: Stone, Ben
• Position: Defense policy, United States - Brief Article

The House of Representatives in late July passed stopgap legislation that would reauthorize the Export Administration Act through November 20. The act, Public Law 96-72, expired on August 20.

The measure now moves to the Senate, where Sen. Michael B. Enzi, R-Wyo., opposes a short-term reauthorization. Enzi--cosponsor of S.149, which would extend the Export Administration through 2004--argues that the expired act needs a significant overhaul before it is renewed. S.149 would do just that, he said. The Senate is expected to take up his bill in September.

On August 1, the House International Relations Committee approved a revision of the act that would strengthen restrictions on so-called dual-use technologies, which have both military and commercial use. Critics of the bill contend that commercial interests are undermined by the emphasis placed on national security. The administration supports the long-term renewal of the Export Administration Act and has urged Congress to do so. Several members of Congress, however, have expressed concern that the bill would allow the export of technology that could be used by other nations to develop weapons.

TRAC Update

During floor debate in late July on the Treasury-Postal Appropriations Act (H.R. 2590), Rep. Albert Wynn, D-Md., offered an amendment to prohibit funds for any outsourcing activities unless there is a full public-private competition under Office of Management and Budget circular A-76. The amendment was defeated by voice vote.

Wynn--sponsor of H.R. 721, the Truthfulness, Responsibility and Accountability in Contracting (TRAC) Act of 2001--has suggested that the federal government is not saving money or receiving the best possible value by contracting our. His legislation would require all service contracts to undergo public-private competitions, as well as the implementation of a centralized reporting and cost-accounting system. The TRAC Act has nearly 200 cosponsors.

Sen. Richard Durbin, D-I11., who has introduced similar legislation in the Senate (S.1152), is expected to offer his bill as an amendment to the fiscal year 2002 defense authorization measure when it comes to the floor later this month. Durbin's bill also would require federal agencies to review all current service contracts signed since 1980, in which federal employees had performed a service, and to determine if further public-private competition is necessary. S.1152 has 18 cosponsors.

Before the August congressional recess...