Tester, Daines Push to Cut Red Tape for Montana Gun Manufacturers

Senators Call on Secretaries of State and Commerce to Boost Markets for Small Businesses

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines are kicking off National Small Business Week by pushing to cut red tape for Montana’s gun manufacturers so they can sell their world-class products internationally and compete with larger manufacturers.

In a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Tester and Daines are urging the Administration to quickly complete the Export Control Reform Initiative to expedite Montana gun manufacturers’ ability to sell their products around the world. Tester and Daines’ letter was cosigned by a group of 27 bipartisan Senators.

“Our state is home to world-class firearm and ammunition manufacturers,” the Senators wrote. “With streamlined regulations, these important businesses will be able to access new markets, create new jobs, and hire hard-working Montanans.”

The Export Control Reform Initiative was launched in 2009 to overhaul the nation’s outdated export control system and streamline regulations for America’s munitions exporters. In order to complete the Export Control Reform Initiative, Tester and Daines are urging the Administration to finalize and publish the guidelines for the 21 categories that govern gun and ammunition exports.

Once the rules are finalized, exporters will experience faster approval times and less paperwork because a single agency will coordinate all munition exports.

“Once completed, the Export Control Reform Initiative will save taxpayer dollars, create American jobs, and strengthen our national security,” the Senators added. “We are strong supporters of this initiative and respectfully urge you to complete it as soon as possible.”

The National Shooting Sports Foundation applauded the action from Montana’s Senators.

“NSSF is deeply appreciative of Senators Tester and Daines for their bipartisan leadership in gathering the signatures of 29 senators, urging the Departments of State and Commerce to complete these long overdue reforms that were left unfinished by the prior administration,” said Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “The much needed modernization of our nation’s export controls will both strengthen national security, allow U.S. manufacturers to compete internationally on a level playing field and help our industry to create even more good paying American jobs. We look forward to the administration moving expeditiously to complete these overdue reforms and thank the senators for their continuing commitment the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry.”

The letter is available HERE.