Any changes proposed to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List — a trade restriction list that identifies foreign individuals, companies, and organizations that may pose a threat to U.S. national security — would be expedited under bipartisan legislation recently introduced by U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
Specifically, the Export Control Enforcement and Enhancement Act, S. 4840, which Sen. Blackburn sponsored on June 18 alongside lead cosponsor U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), would speed up consideration of proposals for additions to, removals from, or other modifications to the Entity List.
“American technologies must be protected from those who threaten our interests,” Sen. Blackburn said. “The Export Control Enforcement and Enhancement Act would ensure the Entity List is a fast, decisive, and enforceable tool for denying U.S. adversaries access to our technology.”
If enacted, S. 4840 would hasten the Entity List process with a mandatory 30-day vote required by the End-User Review Committee (ERC), the interagency U.S. government body that identifies foreign entities for export control lists to protect national security and foreign policy interests.
Under the bill, the ERC would be required to vote on proposed Entity List changes within 30 days unless the committee unanimously decides to suspend the vote.
S. 4840 also would ensure every member of the ERC has an equal voice on which entities pose national security threats, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Blackburn’s staff.
The measure is a companion to the same-named bill introduced in March by U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) in the House of Representatives.