THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 21, 2001

Dear Mr. Chairman:

The Administration has carefully reviewed the current version of S.149, the Export Administration Act of 2001, which provides authority for controlling exports of dual-use goods and technologies. As a result of its review, the Administration has proposed a number of changes to S.149. The Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Commerce, and I agree that these changes will strengthen the President's national security and foreign policy authorities to control dual-use exports in a balanced manner, which will permit U.S. companies to compete more effectively in the global market place. With these changes, S.149 represents a positive step towards the reform of the U.S. export control system supported by the President. If the Committee incorporates these changes into S.149, the Administration will support the bill. We will continue to work with the Congress to ensure that our national security needs are incorporated into a rational export control regime.

Sincerely,

Condoleezza Rice
Assistant for the President for National Security Affairs

The Honorable Phil Gramm
Chairman
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510-4302