Rep. Kelly Calls on Secretary Kerry to Strengthen US Export Control System

Sends letter to Secretary of State urging “swift completion" of Export Control Reform Initiative, including prompt action on firearms & ammunition

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) – a member of the House Ways and Means Committee – sent a letter today to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry emphasizing the importance of completing the Export Control Reform Initiative (ECRI) in order to strengthen American economic growth and national security.

Text of Rep. Kelly’s letter to Secretary Kerry:

I write to offer comments regarding Export Control Reform Initiative (ECR). 

As you know, implementing the ECR is crucial to strengthening both our national security and the competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing and technological sectors.  ECR has the potential to eliminate unnecessary and burdensome regulations on U.S. businesses and allow the U.S. export control system to focus on the most important national security priorities.  Accordingly, I urge the swift completion of the ECR.

Furthermore, while nearly all other categories of items have been addressed in the ECR, firearms and ammunition have not yet seen such treatment.  This costly delay harms U.S. firearms and ammunition manufacturers by weakening their ability to compete in the global market.  Thus I also specifically call for prompt action on the movement of eligible, dual use items classified under categories I, II, and III of the U.S. Munitions List (USML) to the Commerce Control List (CCL).

Insofar as public comment from a range of stakeholders is vital to completing a successful ECR process, I urge the timely publication of proposed rules implementing the ECR and further urge the interagency task force entrusted with the ECR to give thoughtful consideration to the views of firearms owners, manufacturers of firearms and ammunition, and other stakeholders.  Lastly, I request a timeline for the publication of these proposed rules and the public comment period. 

Thank you for your consideration in this important matter and I look forward to your response.

A copy of the letter can be viewed here.

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