Together with Ex-Im Reauthorization later this year, the Interim Final Rule will open the door to increased international space-related sales.

Statement by Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO Marion C. Blakey 

Arlington, Va. — The Aerospace Industries Association applauds the Administration’s issuance of revisions to Category XV of the U.S. Munitions List (USML) that will end excessive restrictions on space systems like commercial satellites and related articles.  After a six month delayed implementation, the interim final rule will remove many of these less sensitive technologies from the USML and place them under the more appropriate controls of the Commerce Control List.

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SIA and AIA PR — SIA and AIA welcome a proposed amendment to H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, that would authorize the president to remove satellites and related components from the U.S. Munitions List, subject to certain restrictions and congressional oversight.

More than a decade ago, Congress passed legislation that required all commercial satellites, satellite components, associated technical data and related ground equipment to be treated as “munitions” for export licensing purposes. SIA and AIA have long encouraged Congress to adopt legislation that would allow the executive branch to determine the appropriate export licensing policy for commercial satellites and related items, just as it does for all other technologies that are subject to U.S. export licensing.
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Officials in Washington are moving forward with reforming the nation’s restrictive export laws, which have been blamed for costing U.S. companies business overseas while building up competition abroad.

Rep. C. A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-MD) has introduced the “Strengthening America’s Satellite Industry Act” that would allow most satellites and related components to be removed from United States Munitions List.

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