I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for recognizing me, and want to commend you for holding this important hearing today.

The subject at hand is not an easy one. This Committee – and several others in Congress – have grappled with encryption policy for years. Unfortunately, we have had little success so far in finding the right solution. And, as each day goes by, technological advances create an even greater need for a coherent national policy.

Mr. Chairman, I hope that as the need for a solution becomes more compelling, this Committee will redouble its efforts to find a rational middle ground that balances the crucial interests at stake.

Our country leads the world in the production of computer hardware and software, and technology is now the engine that drives the global economy. We must not sit idly by and let U.S. companies lose their edge in the world market because they can’t deliver the kind of secure products and services that customers demand.

But, as I’m sure we’ll hear from our witnesses today, the advent of increasingly sophisticated technology is a double-edged sword. While it can make global commerce and communications more secure, it can make national security and law enforcement less so. We all know too well that even in the post-Cold War era, the wars against international terrorism, espionage, and human rights abuses continue unabated.

Mr. Chairman, it is clearly the duty of this Congressional committee to make sure that the vital interests of the United States in foreign commerce and communications are protected. In carrying out that responsibility, we must take the lead in thoroughly understanding the role of encryption, and carefully consider the legitimate concerns of both sides of this debate.

Both law enforcement and the business community insist that a balanced and reasonable encryption policy is their goal. My hope is that the distinguished witnesses before us today will shed light on ways to achieve that goal.

Again, I commend you for holding this hearing, Mr. Chairman, and I look forward to working with you to craft an encryption policy that we can all support. I yield back the balance of my time.