Senator Marshall Joins Senator Lee, Congressman Green, and 86 GOP Colleagues Urging End to Export Licenses for Firearms Rule

Washington –U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-Tennessee-07), and 86 of his House and Senate GOP colleagues in urging U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to rescind the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) interim final rule (IFR) “Revision of Firearms License Requirement.”

The IFR restricts firearm, ammunition, and related component exports for law-abiding American manufacturers to over 36 countries and severely limits the ability of American businesses to obtain export licenses.  

In their letter, the Senators and Representatives wrote: “Dear Secretary Lutnick,

“Congratulations on your recent confirmation as the Secretary of the Department of Commerce. We look forward to working with you on policies that ensure the healthy flow of interstate and international commerce that grows our economy, serves the national interest, and enables American communities to flourish.

“As soon as is practically possible, we respectfully request that you rescind the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) recent interim final rule (IFR) “Revision of Firearms License Requirements” (89 FR 34680; RIN 0694-AJ46). This misguided and destructive IFR is costing the American firearms industry nearly $500 million annually while doing nothing to advance U.S. interests or regional stability. Despite numerous attempts to rein in these actions through letters, legislation, hearings, markups, and oversight, the Biden BIS ignored Congress and used the IFR to advance the Biden administration’s anti-firearms agenda.

“President Trump recently signed an executive order to secure Second Amendment rights. The order instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to review all orders, regulations, guidance, plans, international agreements, and other actions of executive departments and agencies that violate the Second Amendment or furthered the Biden administration’s anti-firearms agenda. Section (2)(b)(vii) of the executive order specifically requires the review and remediation of any agency action regarding the “processing of applications, to make, manufacture, transfer, or export firearms.” Because this IFR stops the commercial export of firearms, ammunition, and related components to over 36 countries and severely limits the ability of American businesses to obtain export licenses, we believe this IFR ought to be addressed immediately.

“As you begin work unwinding the numerous “America Last” policies of the Biden administration, we respectfully request that your administration prioritize the expeditious recission of this IFR and restore the lawful commerce of American firearms and ammunition manufacturers.

Again, congratulations on your confirmation and we look forward to working with your administration.”

The full text of the letter – and the full list of the co-signers – is available HERE.

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