Congresswoman Torres Statement on Commerce Department’s 90-Day Freeze on Firearms Exports
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today issued the following statement after the Department of Commerce announced on Friday a suspension of most exports of?? U.S.-made firearms, related components, and ammunition for non-government civilians for 90 days:
"Protecting our national security and ensuring deadly weapons do not end up in the wrong hands remains one of my top priorities in Congress. Since our nation’s firearm export process was wrongfully altered during the Trump administration, I have championed legislation and sent letters to push for greater oversight of dangerous firearms exports. Though the 2022 annual defense bill – which did not become law – included my amendment to reinstate Congressional oversight of munitions exports, I am glad to see the spirit of our efforts gaining traction with the current administration.
“The Biden administration has finally reversed course on this misguided policy, and the Commerce Department’s recent decision to pause exports of most civilian firearms for 90 days will save innocent lives. I applaud the agency for taking long overdue action to address American-made weapons fueling gun violence across the globe, but this cannot be the end of what the agency is willing to consider.
“The United States is the world’s largest arms exporter, and relaxed gun export rules have made deadly firearms too accessible to terrorists, drug traffickers, and human rights abusers across the globe. Recent reports make clear the need for greater oversight of U.S.-made firearms exports. Many regions of the world experiencing instability, including Central America, cannot afford for deadly weapons to continue falling into the wrong hands.
“As the Commerce Department assesses the need for policy changes during this pause, I urge the Department to, at the very least, alter its gun export rules. It is up to the Commerce Department to prove it has the systems in place to keep weapons from falling into the hands of bad actors. There must be greater oversight of firearms exports – including prioritizing national security over corporate greed, effective tracking and auditing procedures, and robust Congressional notification – to limit preventable, civilian deaths abroad.”