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B-212235(2) 1 (1983-11-17)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadtit0001 and id is 1 raw text is: IGEST - G GG to)31 COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON D.C. 20648 B-212235(') November 17, 19.83 The Honorable Don Bonker Chairman, Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade Committee on Foreign Affairs House of Representatives Dear Mr. Chairman: This is in response to your June 29, 1983, letter requesting this Office to rule on the propriety of an article entitled Renewal of the Export Administration Act: The Legislative Picture that was published in the May 30, 1983, issue of Business America, a biweekly magazine-type trade publication of the Department of Commerce. -You have requested us to determine whether the publication of the article violated statutory restrictions against lobbying with Federal funds or any other statutory restriction. You have also asked us to determine who was responsible for ,publishing the article. Our view of this matter led us to conclude that the article violated an appropriation restric- tion against lobbying activities. Senator Jake Garn, Chairman, Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, has asked us the same question. .A similar report is also being sent to Senator Garn as of this date. BACKGROUND The International Trade Administration of the Depart- ment of Commerce publishes a biweekly periodical called Business America which usually contains a series of articles dealing with international trade. Individuals and busines- ses engaged in international commerce subscribe to this magazine. The index page of the May 30, 1983, issue des- cribed the section entitled'A Guide to Export Administra- tion, of which the article in question was a part, as follows: The current debate over extension of the Export Administration Act of 1979 has put the spotlight on U.S. export control policy, once of interest only to the exporting community. The ongoing review of this legislation govern ing our export control system provides government, U.S. exporters and the Congress an opportunity to balance secu- rity, foreign policy and commercial goals for the nation. In this issue.Business America tries to take some of the mystery out of the export control El