Introduced on March 5, 1996

UPDATE [September 26, 1996]

On Wednesday September 25, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on H.R. 3011. In addition to being the first hearing on the bill, it was the first time this session that a House committee considered changes to current encryption policy.

Witnesses at the hearing included:

• Congressman Robert Goodlatte (R-VA), a sponsor of H.R. 3011

• Representatives from the Administration, including:
  • Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick, representing the Department of Justice
  • William Crowell, Deputy Director of the National Security Agency (NSA)

• Industry Representatives, including:
  • Roberta Katz, VP and General Counsel, Netscape Communications Corp.
  • Melinda Brown, VP and General Counsel, Lotus Development Corp.
  • Patricia Ripley, Managing Director, Bear Stearns and Co. (a Wall Street investment firm)
  • Dr. Charles Deneka, Senior VP and CTO of Corning, Inc. (on behalf of the National Association of Manufacturers)

• CDT Policy Post 2.34 - House Committee Holds Hearing on Crypto Bill

Background on H.R. 3011/S.1587

S. 1587 [sponsored by Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT)] and H.R. 3011 [sponsored by Rep. Robert Goodlatte (R-VA), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and others] were the first bills introduced in the 104th Congress to roll back restrictive export controls on encryption products.

S.1587 preceded S. 1726, the "Pro-CODE" bill, also sponsored by Sens. Burns and Leahy.

• Text of H.R. 3011
• List of Cosponsors for H.R. 3011

• Text of S. 1587
• List of Cosponsors for S. 1587
• Analysis of S. 1587 written by Senate Staff
• Statement by Sen. Leahy upon introduction of S. 1587
• Statement by Sen. Burns upon introduction of S. 1587
• Members of Congress Call on President Clinton to Abandon Key Escrow May 16, 1996

• CDT Policy Post 2.9 - Bills To Relax Crypto Exports Introduced

• Noted cryptographers Matt Blaze and Bruce Schneier have written letters supporting Sen. Leahy's bill

• Press Clips
  • Netly News - March 5, 1996