Export Administration Act of 2001

H.R. 2581, the Export Administration Act of 2001, was designed to overhaul the system by which the U.S. government regulates the export of "dual-use" goods—items like high-performance computers and advanced chemicals that have both commercial and military applications. The bill sought to balance national security by restricting technology that could aid terrorists or hostile nations with the economic interests of U.S. businesses by streamlining the licensing process for products already widely available on the global mass market.

For everyday citizens, this legislation aimed to protect public safety by tightening controls on weapons of mass destruction and monitoring the export of technologies to countries that support terrorism. It also proposed practical updates to government efficiency, such as prohibiting fees for export license applications and increasing the number of overseas investigators to ensure that exported American technology is used for its intended peaceful purposes. Although the bill was placed on the Union Calendar in 2002, it did not ultimately become law, and export controls continued to be managed through executive orders and subsequent emergency authorities.