House OKs Bill to Restrict Embargoes, Aid Exporters

A compromise bill to streamline procedures for U.S. firms to export certain products and restrict presidential authority to order embargoes won House approval Tuesday.

The bill, approved by voice vote and sent to the Senate, “will restore the reputation of U.S. exporters as reliable suppliers,” Rep. Don Bonker (D-Wash.), floor manager of the bill, said during the debate.

The Senate approved a different version of the measure--a simple extension of the old law--two weeks ago.

The present Export Administration Act has been widely criticized in the business community and Congress as causing unnecessary delays in the approval of export licenses. Many of the complaints deal with the government’s efforts to prevent Soviet Bloc countries from obtaining U.S. high technology equipment.

Would Focus Controls

The new bill seeks to focus controls more on sophisticated technologies and less on lower-level technologies that are generally available from other nations.

It requires the President to consult with Congress and submit a report before imposing new export controls.

The bill also increases penalties for violations of export rules that are retained.

The measure seeks particularly to protect farm products from a presidential embargo order by giving Congress more time to review such an order and providing that any embargo would be ended after 60 days unless Congress authorizes an extension.

Restrictions on President

The bill bars the President from interfering with existing export contracts unless such an action is prompted by a breach of the peace.

“I don’t know how we can tie the President’s hands any more effectively,” Bonker said.

A similar bill passed the House but died in the Senate last year in the final days of the last Congress.

Despite differences in the current bills, House members expressed optimism about their version’s chances.