Obama Threatens to Veto Bill that Includes Satellite Export Control Changes
By Jeffrey Hill | May 21, 2012
[Satellite TODAY 05-21-12] The U.S. National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013 has been amended to includea measure that would give the U.S. president authority to ease export restrictions for commercial satellites and related components, Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) said in a May 17 statement.
Berman said the amended bill is now under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives, though U.S. President Barack Obama has threatened to veto it because of a variety of provisions unrelated to the satellite-export issue.
“Treating commercial satellites and components as if they were lethal weapons, regardless of whether they’re going to friend or foe, has gravely harmed American space manufacturers — a view borne out by numerous studies, industry assessments and the Administration’s own recent ‘1248’ report to Congress,” Berman said in the statement.