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H.R. 3231 98th Congress House

Export Administration Amendments Act of 1983

Official title: A bill to amend the authorities contained in the Export Administration Act of 1979, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 6, 1983 See on congress.gov
Foreign Trade and International Finance Advisory bodiesAgricultural surplusesAgriculture and Rural AffairsAgriculture in foreign trade
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This bill died when the 98th Congress ended
It never became law before the 98th Congress (1983–1984) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 40 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 8, 1984
For Further Action See S.979.
Oct 31, 1983
Received in the Senate, read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 509.
Oct 27, 1983
Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 27, 1983
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 27, 1983
Separate Vote Demanded on Amendments Adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
Oct 27, 1983
House Agreed to Amendments Adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
Oct 19, 1983
Considered by House Unfinished Business.
Oct 18, 1983
Considered by House Unfinished Business.
Sep 30, 1983
Considered by House Unfinished Business.
Sep 29, 1983
Considered by House Unfinished Business.
Sep 26, 1983
Considered by House Unfinished Business.
Sep 26, 1983
Called up by House by Rule.
Sep 22, 1983
Rule Passed House.
Aug 3, 1983
Rules Committee Resolution H.Res.297 Reported to House.
Aug 2, 1983
Committee on Rules Granted an Open Rule Providing Two Hours of Debate; Making in Order H.R.3646 as an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to be Considered as the Original Text for the Purposes of Amendment; Making in Order an Armed Services Committee Amendment now Printed in H.R.3231 as an Amendment to Section 109 of the Substitute.
Jul 26, 1983
Placed on Union Calendar No: 200.
Jul 26, 1983
Reported to House by House Committee on Rules. Report No: 98-257 (Part III).
Jul 26, 1983
Ordered to be Reported.
Jul 26, 1983
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 22, 1983
House Committee on The Judiciary Discharged by Motion.
Jul 22, 1983
House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Discharged by Motion.
Jul 22, 1983
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Armed Services. Report No: 98-257 (Part II).
Jul 21, 1983
House Committee on Rules Granted an Extension for Further Consideration Ending not Later Than July 26, 1983.
Jul 21, 1983
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 20, 1983
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee.
Jul 20, 1983
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 20, 1983
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Jul 20, 1983
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 19, 1983
Committee Hearings Held.
Jul 13, 1983
Referred to Subcommittee on Rules of the House.
Jul 12, 1983
Referred to House Committee on Rules Sequentially, for a Period Ending not Later than Jul 22, 83.
Jun 23, 1983
Executive Comment Requested from Justice.
Jun 22, 1983
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary Sequentially, for a Period Ending not Later than Jul 22, 83.
Jun 22, 1983
Referred to House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Sequentially, for a Period Ending not Later than Jul 22, 83.
Jun 22, 1983
Referred to House Committee on Armed Services Sequentially, for a Period Ending not Later than Jul 22, 83.
Jun 22, 1983
Reported to House by House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Report No: 98-257 (Part I).
Jun 9, 1983
Ordered to be Reported.
Jun 6, 1983
For Previous Action See H.R.2971.
Jun 6, 1983
Referred to House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Jun 6, 1983
Introduced in House
 Amendments to this bill 42

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

11 failed 29 with no recorded outcome 2 withdrawn or other

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 481 – An amendment to the Annunzio amendment to prohibit a department or agency of the U.S. from making loans direc… No recorded outcome Oct 27, 1983
HAMDT 480 – An amendment to prohibit the importation of gold coin minted in the Soviet Union or offered for sale by the g… No recorded outcome Oct 27, 1983
HAMDT 479 – An amendment to strike the penalty that prohibits violators of fair employment standards as they apply to Sou… No recorded outcome Oct 27, 1983
HAMDT 478 – A technical amendment to except 'individuals' from the penalties applied to 'persons' who import South Africa… No recorded outcome Oct 27, 1983
HAMDT 477 – An amendment to require the President, within 90 days, to issue regulations prohibiting any U.S. person from … No recorded outcome Oct 27, 1983
HAMDT 456 – An amendment on a previous legislative day to add provisions for 1) agreements to coordinate the systems of e… Failed Oct 27, 1983
HAMDT 460 – An amendment to require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of using co… No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 459 – An amendment to establish a demonstration project under the Departments of Commerce and Transportation to 1) … No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 458 – An amendment to add to the foreign policy controls authority language in the bill that the authority of the C… No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 457 – An amendment to the section dealing with national security controls to require the Secretary of Commerce to c… No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 455 – An amendment to include lumber of American Lumber Standards Grades of number 3 or better, or Pacific Lumber I… No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 454 – An amendment to increase the authorization by $20 million, with the added funds to be used only to timely pro… Withdrawn Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 453 – An amendment to change a criterion for foreign availability from "sufficient" quality and quantity to "compar… Failed Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 452 – An amendment to delete the authority to the President to prohibit or curtail the exportation of any goods, te… Failed Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 451 – An amendment to have the President seek to raise the agreement of the Committee on multilateral export contro… Failed Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 450 – An amendment to the Solomon substitute amendment to the Bonker perfecting amendment by asking unanimous conse… No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 449 – An amendment to the Solomon substitute amendment to the Bonker perfecting amendment to require export license… Failed Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 448 – A substitute amendment to the Bonker perfecting amendment to permit the President to extend the period to neg… No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 447 – An amendment to the Courter amendment to permit the President to extend the negotiations for mutual export co… No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 446 – An amendment in the bill to strike the provision in the bill that removes an item from the list of controlled… Withdrawn Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 445 – An amendment to add that the language of the bill dealing with export controls on existing contracts is not t… No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 444 – An amendment to the Frenzel amendment to add that the language of the bill dealing with export controls on ex… No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 443 – An amendment revising the limitation to imposition of new controls on existing contracts and licenses to allo… Failed Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 442 – An amendment to delete the section removing export controls on an item to a country group if all export licen… No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 441 – An amendment adding a provision "The export of goods and technology to the People's Republic of China should … No recorded outcome Oct 19, 1983
HAMDT 440 – An amendment to prohibit the placing of export controls on food, medicine, or medical supplies. It also prohi… No recorded outcome Oct 18, 1983
HAMDT 439 – An amendment to require the Secretary to submit quarterly reports to the committees of the House and Senate l… No recorded outcome Oct 18, 1983
HAMDT 438 – An amendment to the Bonker substitute amendment for the Roth amendment that rewords the exception by which th… No recorded outcome Oct 18, 1983
HAMDT 437 – A substitute amendment to the Roth amendment to provide that no authority or permission to export may be requ… No recorded outcome Oct 18, 1983
HAMDT 436 – An amendment to the Roth amendment adding the provision that "The Secretary may require an export license for… No recorded outcome Oct 18, 1983
HAMDT 435 – Part One: An amendment to eliminate licensing requirements for low-technology exports (according to COCOM cla… No recorded outcome Oct 18, 1983
HAMDT 409 – An amendment to prohibit issuance of a license to export any good or technology subject to national security … Failed Sep 30, 1983
HAMDT 408 – An amendment to add provisions to the foreign policy controls exemption section of the bill. The amendment wo… No recorded outcome Sep 30, 1983
HAMDT 407 – An amendment to the Wolpe amendment adding that restrictions contained in this subsection shall not apply in … Failed Sep 30, 1983
HAMDT 406 – An amendment to prohibit the issuance of export licenses to export to a nonnuclear weapons state goods, techn… No recorded outcome Sep 30, 1983
HAMDT 405 – A substitute amendment to the Hughes amendment to permit the Secretary of Commerce to designate any officer o… Failed Sep 29, 1983
HAMDT 404 – An amendment to strike the Commerce enforcement provisions of the Act. Failed Sep 29, 1983
HAMDT 403 – An amendment to define "detrimental to the national security of the United States" to mean "likely to result … No recorded outcome Sep 29, 1983
HAMDT 402 – An amendment to permit the President to impose sanctions on any individual or firm who violates any national … No recorded outcome Sep 29, 1983
HAMDT 401 – An amendment to request the President to seek an agreement to provide for the imposition and enforcement of e… No recorded outcome Sep 29, 1983
HAMDT 400 – An amendment revising the section on enforcement authority to provide that an officer of the U.S. Customs Ser… Failed Sep 29, 1983
HAMDT 399 – An amendment revising Section 109 Militarily Critical Technologies. The amendment requires that any disagree… No recorded outcome Sep 29, 1983
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 Latest action March 8, 1984

For Further Action See S.979.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Export Administration Amendments Act of 1983 - Title I: Amendments to Export Administration Act of 1979 - Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 (the Export Administration Act) to set forth penalties for: (1) conspiring or attempting to export goods in violation of such Act; (2) attempting to evade the provisions of such Act; and (3) possessing goods or technology with the intent to export them in violation of a national security or foreign policy export control or with the knowledge or reason to believe they would be so exported.

Permits a waiver of the revocation of the authority to export goods or technology only if specified congressional committees are first consulted.

Requires persons convicted of violating a national security or foreign policy export control to forfeit: (1) the goods or technology that were the subject of the violation or that were used in the violation; and (2) the proceeds from the transaction from which the violation arose.

Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to designate Commerce Department employees to take specified actions to enforce the Export Administration Act. Limits the authority of customs officers with respect to such Act to: (1) inspection and seizure of goods or technology at those places in which such officers are lawfully authorized to conduct such searches and seizures; and (2) investigations conducted before such inspection, search, or seizure.

Limits the U.S. Customs Service inspections of goods and technology in the enforcement of this Act to those goods and technology about which the Customs Service has received information of possible violations. Prohibits the Customs Service from conducting random inspections. Limits the amount of money which the Customs Service may spend in enforcing export controls.

Declares that it is U.S. policy to sustain vigorous scientific enterprise and to control the export of goods and substances banned or severely restricted in the United States.

Authorizes the Secretary to issue licenses authorizing multiple exports instead of a validated license for each export, including: (1) a qualified general license, authorizing exports for approved end uses; (2) distribution licenses; (3) project licenses; (4) service supply licenses; and (5) comprehensive operations licenses.

Authorizes the President to impose restrictions on the transfer of goods or technology within the United States to embassies and affiliates of countries which are subject to national security export controls.

Prohibits requiring permission for the exportation of goods or technology covered by national security controls if they are being exported to countries which maintain export controls cooperatively with the United States, although the Secretary may require an export license for exports to certain end users. Authorizes the Secretary to require exporters to notify the Commerce Department of such exports.

Makes technology and related goods that are subject to national security export controls, including militarily critical technologies, eligible for a comprehensive operations export license. Makes exports of such goods and technology eligible for a distribution license or other licenses authorizing multiple exports.

Authorizes the Secretary to establish as one criterion for removing the requirement of validated and qualified general export licenses the anticipated needs of the military of countries subject to national security export controls.

Requires that a national security export control on a good to a specific country group shall be removed if, during the previous year, all applications for export licenses for such good to that country group have been granted. Permits the Secretary to require an export license for the export of that good to certain end users in such country group. Exempts from such requirements all export controls which the United States maintains cooperatively with another country.

Prohibits imposing a national security export control on a good solely because it contains an embedded microprocessor if the microprocessor cannot be used or altered to perform functions other than those it performs in the good in which it is embedded. Permits imposing an export control on such a good only if the functions of the good are such that, if exported, it would make a significant contribution to the military potential of a country that would be detrimental to U.S. national security.

Adds to the list of objectives which the President shall attempt to accomplish in negotiating multilateral export controls.

Limits the duration of national security export controls on goods or technology that are available in foreign countries. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring a validated license for the export of such goods or technology if the availability has not been eliminated within six months of the President's determination that the absence of such export controls would be detrimental to national security.

Requires the Secretary to accept the representations of export license applicants with respect to the foreign availability of goods or technology unless the representations are contradicted by reliable evidence.

Establishes in the Department of Commerce an Office of Foreign Availability which shall be responsible for gathering and analyzing information relating to determinations of foreign availability under the Export Administration Act. Requires such information to be made available to the Congress every six months.

Requires the Secretary to report to Congress within 90 days on a finding by a technical advisory committee that goods or technology subject to national security export controls are available in foreign countries. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring a validated export license for such goods or technology if after six months, the foreign availability has not been eliminated.

Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense to complete the integration of the list of militarily critical technologies into the commodity control list. Requires the Secretaries to report to the appropriate congressional committees before April 1, 1985, any circumstances that would prevent the integrated list from being completed by that date.

Requires the list to include only goods or technologies which are not possessed by nor available to countries to which national security controls apply. Requires the Secretaries to specify to Congress why U.S. military or national security is benefitted if the list includes a good or technology which is available in other countries.

Requires the General Accounting Office to evaluate the attempt to integrate the list of militarily critical technologies into the commodity control list and to report its findings to Congress by April 1, 1985. Requires the Secretaries and the task force to consider mechanisms to reduce the list of militarily critical technologies, including removing from the list: (1) goods and technology the transfer of which would not lead to a significant near-term improvement in the defense capability of a country to which exports are controlled; (2) slowly evolving technologies; (3) technology that is not process-oriented; and (4) components used in militarily sensitive devices that in themselves are not sensitive.

Lists criteria which the President shall consider when imposing, expanding, or extending foreign policy export controls.

Requires the President, before imposing foreign policy export controls, to consult with certain countries, including the countries with which the United States maintains export controls cooperatively.

Authorizes the President to impose, expand, or extend foreign policy export controls only after consultation with the appropriate congressional committee. Requires the President to submit a report to Congress before imposing, expanding, or extending such controls. Lists information to be included in such report.

Prohibits foreign policy export controls from affecting: (1) export contracts entered into before the controls were imposed; or (2) export licenses issued before such time. Declares that this prohibition shall not apply to export controls that relate to actual or imminent acts of aggression or of international terrorism, to actual or imminent gross violations of human rights, or to actual or imminent nuclear weapons tests.

Prohibits export controls imposed on goods or technology in short supply from affecting export contracts entered into before the controls were imposed.

Declares that foreign policy export controls do not authorize export controls on donations of goods intended to be used to relieve human suffering.

Authorizes the President to impose export controls on medicine, food, and donations of goods which are restricted in the United States.

Authorizes the President to prohibit or curtail the exportation from the United States of any goods, technology, or other information produced in the United States to the extent necessary to further, significantly, U.S. foreign policy or to fulfill U.S. international obligations.

Applies foreign policy export controls to activities undertaken with the intent to evade such controls even if such controls would not otherwise apply to such activities.

Authorizes the President to impose foreign policy export controls even if such controls would not otherwise apply to such activities.

Authorizes the President to impose foreign policy export controls with respect to an expanded number of goods or technology if: (1) the President reports to Congress on the proposed controls; and (2) a law is enacted authorizing such controls. Provides for expedited consideration of a joint resolution authorizing such controls.

Requires that any determination of the Secretary with respect to exporting or granting export licenses for crime control instruments shall be made with the concurrence of the Secretary of State.

Reimposes for one year the foreign policy export controls which were in effect on February 28, 1982, and ceased to be effective on March 1, 1982, September 15, 1982, or January 20, 1983, (except those controls with respect to the 1980 summer Olympic games). Authorizes one year extensions of such controls.

Prohibits the President from rescinding a determination that a country supports international terrorism, unless the President submits a report to Congress justifying the rescission and certifying that the country has not provided such support for a year.

Authorizes entities which represent an industry or a substantial segment of an industry which processes metallic materials capable of being recycled to petition the Secretary to monitor exports of such material or impose export controls on such material if: (1) a domestic price increase of a domestic shortage resulting from increased exports is or may be a substantial cause of adverse effect on the economy or on a domestic industry; and (2) a significant increase in exports is or may be a substantial cause of adverse effect on the economy or a domestic industry. Requires such petition to include information demonstrating that specified criteria are satisfied. Requires the Secretary to issue regulations defining specified terms. Sets forth the criteria the Secretary shall use in determining whether to impose monitoring or controls on such materials. Prohibits the Secretary from considering another petition with respect to such material within six months of the final action on the prior petition. Deletes the provision permitting the Secretary to impose temporary controls on such materials after a petition has been filed. Requires specified procedures to be followed before export controls on such materials may be imposed.

Terminates the short supply export controls on domestically produced crude oil on September 30, 1987.

Requires the President to notify Congress whenever the President determines that short supply export controls should be imposed on refined petroleum products.

Declares that foreign policy or short supply controls imposed on agricultural commodities shall cease to be effective if, within 60 days of receiving the President's report on such controls, the Congress does not adopt a joint resolution approving the controls.

Requires the Secretary to issue or deny within 60 days of submission those export license applications which are not referred to another department or agency. Requires the Secretary to inform an export license applicant in writing if the Secretary receives questions or negative recommendations from other departments or agencies with respect to the application. Entitles such an applicant to respond in writing to such questions or recommendations and to respond in person to the department or agency raising such questions or recommendations.

Requires the Secretary to allow an export license applicant 30 days to respond to a decision denying the license application.

Prohibits the Secretary from returning a license application without action if the license requirements are changed after the application has been submitted. Authorizes the Secretary to request additional information in such a case.

Requires the Secretary to provide a proper classification of a good or technology on the commodity control list within ten days of receiving a request for such classification.

Requires the Secretary to respond within 30 days to an inquiry about the applicability of export license requirements to a proposed export transaction or series of transactions.

Requires the Secretary to include in the annual report to Congress on the administration of the Export Administration Act detailed information on the removal of export controls pursuant to a specified section.

Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of such Act for FY 1984 and 1985.

Extends the authority granted by such Act until September 30, 1985.

Requires the Secretary to modify the office hours of the Office of Export Administration or at least four days of each workweek to accommodate exporters throughout the United States.

Title II: Export Promotion Programs - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 and 1985 to carry out Commerce Department export promotion programs.

Directs the President to report to Congress, within 180 days of enactment of this Act, on a contingency plan to promote agricultural exports by bartering surplus agricultural commodities for petroleum, petroleum products, and other vital materials. Authorizes the President: (1) to barter farm commodities for such materials in situations in which sales would otherwise not occur; and (2) to purchase such materials which are produced abroad and acquired by persons in the United States through barter from farm commodities produced in and exported from the United States through normal commercial trade channels. Directs the President to take steps to safeguard existing export markets for farm commodities operating on conventional business terms.

Title III: South Africa - United States Policy Toward South Africa Act of 1983 - Subtitle I: Labor Standards - Requires any United States person who has or controls an enterprise in South Africa which employs more than 20 people to insure that in operating such enterprise the following employment principles are implemented: (1) desegregation in any employment facility; (2) equal employment for all employees; (3) equal pay for equal work; (4) establishment of a minimum wage and salary structure; (5) increase in the representation of nonwhites in managerial, supervisory, administrative, clerical, and technical jobs; (6) improvement of the quality of employees' lives outside the work environment; and (7) recognition of labor unions and fair labor practices. Declares that the Secretary may issue guidelines and give advisory opinions on compliance with such principles.

Directs the Secretary of State to establish an Advisory Council in South Africa to advise the Secretary with respect to the implementation of such employment principles and to review the annual reports which each U.S. person covered by this Act must submit to the Secretary on the progress made in implementing such principles.

Directs the Secretary to establish in the United States an American Advisory Council to make policy recommendations regarding labor practices of U.S. persons in South Africa and to review such persons' progress in U.S. persons in South Africa and to review such persons' progress in implementing such employment practices.

Directs the Secretary: (1) to take specified actions to insure compliance with the implementation of such employment principles; and (2) to review the compliance of such persons at least biennially. Sets forth penalties for noncompliance. Authorizes the President to waive compliance with the implementation of such principles if such compliance would harm U.S. national security.

Subtitle II: Prohibition on Loans and Importation of Gold Coins - Prohibits any U.S. bank from making any loan directly or through a foreign subsidiary to South Africa unless such loan is for educational, housing, or health facilities available to all persons on a nondiscriminatory basis. Prohibits the importation of any gold coin minted in South Africa or sold by South Africa.

Directs the Secretary to take specified actions to enforce the prohibitions on loans and the importation of gold coins. Sets forth penalties for violations of such prohibitions. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibitions for one year if South Africa meets specified conditions.

Subtitle III: General Provisions - Directs Federal agencies to cooperate with the Secretary in carrying out provisions of this Act.

 Related & companion bills 4
 Committees of jurisdiction 5
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3231: Export Administration Amendments Act of 1983. 98th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-3231/
MLA
"H.R. 3231: Export Administration Amendments Act of 1983." 98th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-3231/.
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H.R. 3231, 98th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-3231/.
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[H.R. 3231: Export Administration Amendments Act of 1983](https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-3231/)
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