Congress Approves Presidential Satellite Authority in NDAA; Would Allow USML-CCL Move

The Senate passed the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act Dec. 21, which, as expected, includes a provision that would reduce export restrictions on some satellites and their components. The bill will next go to the President for his signature. The NDAA conference report was approved 81-14 is (here). The provision is based on the Safeguarding United States Satellite Leadership and Security Act, S-3211, introduced by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)

These reforms to satellite export controls “will allow businesses to expand their operations and invest in new technologies that will help grow our state’s economy,” Bennet said in a press release. The legislation will provide “a more even playing field for U.S. satellite companies, spurring economic and job growth and bolstering the leadership of the U.S. space community for many years,” the Satellite Industry Association said. The provision “will remove the legislative mandate that required one-size-fits-all regulation for satellite trade,” SIA said (here).

House lawmakers also recently approved the NDAA. Members of the space and satellite industry sought reforms following a review from the Defense and State departments backing the removal of non-critical satellites from the U.S. munitions list. The bill would allow the transfer of satellites and related items from the State Department’s U.S. Munitions List to the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Commerce Control List, while prohibiting the export of such items to China, North, Syria and Iran.