IEC Electronics site of pitch by Schumer
Sen. Charles Schumer is calling for a shoring up of federal rules to prevent equipment for national security to be built in foreign countries.
He said on Wednesday that current rules could cost American jobs and jeopardize the reliability and security of military and other sensitive electronic components.
At a news conference at IEC Electronics Corp. in Newark, Wayne County, the New York Democratic senator announced efforts to eliminate “ambiguities” in current rules that could allow components to be made by manufacturers not cleared by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, known as ITAR.
IEC Electronics manufactures printed circuit boards for military customers and the defense contracting industry. The company employs more than 800 people in the region, including 600 at the Newark plant.
“Our most sensitive military technology should be made by trusted New York companies like IEC, not those from overseas,” said Schumer. “There are ambiguous federal regulations that could put those jobs and our national security at risk by allowing manufacturers overseas to produce printed circuit boards that are not up to snuff with tough regulations and quality that the U.S. requires.”
A task force is currently reviewing ITAR regulations. Schumer is asking Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to also address the issue.
“So if you want to figure out how some of our most sophisticated weapons and nuclear power plants and anything else work, you look at the circuit board and it will tell you a whole lot,” Schumer said. “Imagine if the Chinese could reverse-engineer components that run our fighter planes or weapons systems.”
IEC is compliant under the rules of ITAR, which regulates the export, import and technology of defense-related materials and equipment.
Barry Gilbert, IEC chief executive, said the company made a transformation about a decade ago from making computer components to its current product lines, which include custom boards for military, medical and other industries.
The company has invested $9 million in facilities in Newark, Rochester and Victor in the past four years and is planning to invest $3 million more this year. Employment at the Newark plant has grown roughly sixfold from the approximately 100 people working there a decade ago.
Gilbert said efforts by Schumer are important to the company’s continued growth and to national security.
“It is equally important where these components come from and the software nested inside the components come from,” Gilbert said. “By having our military buy components that are U.S.-made, boards that are U.S.-made, not only will our jobs increase, but our security will absolutely increase and I think we will all sleep a little better at night.”
JBLACKWELL@
DemocratandChronicle.com
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