Export Administration Act of 2001

This bill, introduced in 2001, sought to establish a new legal framework for controlling the export of "dual-use" items—commercial products and technologies that have both civilian and military applications. It was designed to replace the expired Export Administration Act of 1979, providing the Department of Commerce with updated authority to regulate these exports for national security and foreign policy reasons.

For everyday citizens and business owners, the bill’s primary impact would have been a more streamlined process for obtaining export licenses and clearer rules for selling high-tech goods abroad. By modernizing these regulations, the bill aimed to help American companies compete more effectively in global markets while increasing penalties for those who illegally export sensitive technology to restricted countries.