Washington, DC -- Potential export markets could be opened for agricultural products and dual use technology thanks to a bill sponsored by U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) to update and streamline the Export Administration Act (EAA).

The (EAA) would streamline the control of exports and help to open markets for U.S. agricultural goods by lifting food sanctions on some foreign countries. The bill updates the nation's export policy and restores expired control authority. The bill includes bipartisan support from Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Phil Gramm (R-TX), and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD). The original act expired in 1990, and export control policy has been operating under presidential executive order ever since, although a temporary, one-year extension was approved last year.

"This bill is common sense legislation," Johnson said. "It will update our export policy for the high tech era, keeping supercomputers out of the hands of unfriendly nations and allowing the sale of older technology to foreign markets. Currently, there are aged supercomputers that can't be sold to foreign countries."

"Most importantly, it prohibits our nation's use of food as a weapon," Johnson added. "That is simply not good policy. Considering that trade is a critical component to maintaining viable farm income, the last thing we should do is punish our producers by blocking exports to countries that want to purchase our food products."

Johnson said that Congress faces challenges because the legislative process moves at a deliberative pace while technology advances happen exponentially. "Today's personal computers are equivalent to yesterday's supercomputers," Johnson said. "Congress historically has been reactive to new technology. It's critical that we devise a system that can keep pace with technological innovations."

The first legislative effort to address export controls dates back to 1949 when the EAA was originally authorized with the goal of containing the Soviet threat.

The last major rewrite of the EAA was in 1979, with amendments in 1985 and 1988. Johnson said the Congress is long overdue in addressing necessary changes to the EAA.