House Passes Bill to Require Majority Vote for Certain Export License Disputes

The House on March 19 passed, by voice vote, a bill that would require that certain export licensing disputes be resolved by a majority vote of the government's interagency Operating Committee for Export Policy. Those disputes are currently resolved by the Operating Committee chair, who is a Bureau of Industry and Security employee.

The bill would cover export licenses involving commercial satellites, jet engines, emerging or foundational technology, or countries subject to comprehensive U.S. arms embargoes.

Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., who introduced the legislation in December, said his bill would ensure that each department on the Operating Committee has a say in the disputes (see 2312130053). The committee includes representatives from the Defense, Energy and State departments in addition to BIS. When the House Foreign Affairs Committee marked up McCormick's bill, he agreed to an amendment that would allow the Operating Committee chair to break tie votes.