Halleluah.
I see the ability for AMSAT-NA to be able to talk to its international friends again in our near future.
I saw this coming for some time and saw very high level administration and directorial level personnel of many agencies of the US government say this needed to happen, but I was afraid that the staunch opposition of two very high ranking people in the US congress, who are about to retire, would prevent this leaving conference.
This is not the death of ITAR, but it is the rebirth of our ability to go and get a commodities jurisdiction request to have a decent hearing with some real chance for success. NO technical assistance agreements, no telling our dear friends from around the world that we would love to work with them so long as they agree to be bound by US law and subject to prosecution in the US. For US persons, it was the threat of bankrupting fines, loss of jobs, and more. I have longed for this day.
Now that it has been adopted by conference, it is a straight up and down vote in House and Senate will happen with no filibuster, and hopefully the president will sign.
Fingers crossed!! Bob
On Wed, Dec 19, 2012 at 8:30 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner < glasbrenner@mindspring.com> wrote:
http://www.spacepolitics.com/2012/12/18/a-long-awaited-big-win-for-export-co...
73, Drew KO4MA
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