U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Bill Huizenga (R-MI) recently proposed legislation that would modernize missile technology export controls by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers.
“The threats our nation faces have evolved over time; therefore, our approach to keeping America safe must evolve as well,” Rep. Huizenga said. “We cannot allow bureaucratic red tape to hinder our national security.”
The congressman on April 29 sponsored the Missile Technology Control Revision Act, H.R. 3068, alongside cosponsor Rep. McCaul to bolster U.S. national security while ensuring America’s allies are equipped to address shared security threats in a timely manner.
“The Chinese Communist Party [CCP] is working at lightning speed to advance its military apparatus — and it does not play fair,” said Rep. McCaul. “The Mission Technology Control Revision Act empowers the United States and its allies to meet that generational challenge head-on by removing burdensome red tape that slows down the transfer of critical military technologies.”
The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) was signed in 1987 and is a non-binding political arrangement designed to curtail exports and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction delivery vehicles and the underlying technologies, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Unfortunately, the MTCR has no independent means to verify whether states adhere to its guidelines or a mechanism to penalize member states if they violate them, the summary says.
“By modernizing the [MTCR] to meet the security challenges of today, we can strengthen our defense capabilities and increase our cooperation with our allies, especially Australia and the United Kingdom,” Rep. Huizenga said. “The Missile Technology Control Revision Act can act as a force multiplier that allows the United States and our closest allies to address the security challenges we face today and in the future.”
Specifically, H.R. 3068 would amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to allow for expedited defense trade with countries the president determines to be eligible for a defense trade exemption.
Additionally, the bill includes a statement of policy that the U.S. would no longer apply a “presumption of denial” for MTCR items to NATO, major non-NATO allies, and Five Eyes members, the summary says.
“I urge my colleagues to support this important bill that will strengthen crucial partnerships like the AUKUS defense pact and deter the CCP’s malign activity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” Rep. McCaul said.