Where Industry and Security Intersect
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President Bush's budget for Fiscal Year 2003, due to be presented to the Congress on February 4, 2002, proposes additional funding for a number of new programs and initiatives to be administered by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Export Administration (BXA).
BXA is the agency within the Department of Commerce charged with addressing issues arising at the intersection of industry and national security. BXA's responsibilities include administering and enforcing controls on the export of sensitive dual-use items and technology, assisting U.S. industry in complying with international arms control agreements, cooperating and assisting other countries on export control and strategic trade issues, promoting federal initiatives and public-private partnerships across industry sectors to protect the nation's critical infrastructures, coordinating the Department's overall homeland security efforts, and monitoring the viability of the U.S. defense industrial base.
Consistent with the President's objectives of securing the homeland, stemming the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and promoting governmental efficiency, the FY2003 budget proposal includes the following new BXA initiatives:
Homeland Security Information Technology and Evaluation Program. This new program office will develop initiatives to promote the coordinated use of information technology for homeland security purposes. In particular, the program will study federal information systems with the goal of improving information sharing among federal agencies for law enforcement, intelligence, border security, and immigration purposes. The program will be administered by BXA's Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office ("CIAO") and will work closely with the Office of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget to ensure consistency with the Administration's overall homeland security policy. (An increase of $20 million and 15 full-time employees.)Enhancing Export Enforcement. One of BXA's highest national security priorities is ensuring compliance with U.S. dual-use export controls, which are designed to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The FY2003 budget allocates additional funds to enable BXA's Export Enforcement branch to expand international enforcement efforts by posting attachés in key export markets and by sending agents to conduct on-site end-use checks in foreign countries. BXA also will enhance domestic export control efforts by establishing new field offices in Seattle and Houston.
(An increase of $5.35 million and 17 full-time employees.)
Improving Efficiency of the Export Licensing System. The President's budget also contemplates hiring additional front-line licensing and regulatory experts to enhance BXA's ability to carry out its export licensing responsibilities in a timely and effective manner. (An increase of $1.140 million and six full-time employees.)
Securing Information Technology. Based on the General Accounting Office's recent information technology (IT) security audit findings and an assessment of BXA's compliance with the Government Information Security Reform Act, BXA is requesting additional funds to significantly improve its IT security program. Poor information security could have potentially devastating implications for the United States, particularly in light of events of September 11, 2001. Accordingly, with respect to BXA's mission critical systems, BXA must quickly address and resolve weaknesses that could put critical operation assets at risk. (An increase of $1 million and one full-time employee.)