Released by United States Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana – November 16, 2023
“This pause puts at stake U.S. commercial and economic interests, as well as those business interests of firearm exporters whose pending exports are now subject to pause, in addition to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.”
WASHINGTON DC – Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) in raising concerns to Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo about the Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) announcement that it will not issue new export licenses involving certain firearms, related components and ammunition for 90 days.
BIS’s announcement states that it will also pause providing new export assistance to non-governmental firearms users worldwide, with only a few exceptions.
“This pause puts at stake U.S. commercial and economic interests, as well as those business interests of firearm exporters whose pending exports are now subject to pause, in addition to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests,” they continued.
The 90-day pause would have an estimated direct cost of at least $89 million on the industry and annual cost of at least $238 million, if the pause becomes permanent.
“Furthermore, it is our understanding that the Department has never before imposed such a 90 day pause on such a wide range of firearms exports. We have significant concerns about the justifications for and ramifications of this pause. Finally, we are concerned the unmet demand created by this action will promote opportunities for less scrupulous, professional, or conscientious sources of supply to fill the void, thereby strengthening illicit arms markets,” they concluded.
The senators asked Sec. Raimondo to answer several questions on the reasoning behind this decision and the economic consequences it will have on American industry.
Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) also signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
