Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions
"Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions" is a regular feature of International Trade Today. The following are brief summaries of recent Capitol Hill actions.
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Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
FDA Tobacco Bill Passed by Senate
On June 11, 2009, the Senate passed an amended version of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1256), which would, among other things, provide the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products. The House is expected to consider the Senate's amended version of H.R. 1256 on June 12, 2009.
(The House passed its own version of H.R. 1256 on April 2, 2009. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/14/09 news, 09041410, for BP summary.)
President Obama issued a statement on the Senate's passage of H.R. 1256 in which he states that he looks forward to signing the bill into law, and to working with HHS Secretary Sebelius and FDA Commissioner Hamburg on its implementation.
Pakistan Aid Bill Passed the House With ROZ Provision
On June 11, 2009, the House passed H.R. 1886, the Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act. According to a House Foreign Affairs Committee press release, H.R. 1886 would, among other things, create Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in which certain goods could be produced for duty-free export to the U.S.
2009 Supplemental Appropriations Bill to Go to Conference
The House disagreed to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 2346, making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and agreed to a conference.
H1N1 Alert Level Raised to Pandemic Status Statement by HSC Chairman
On June 11, 2009, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Thompson released a statement on the World Health Organization (WHO) decision to raise its H1N1 influenza pandemic alert to Phase 6.
Trade-Related Bills Introduced on June 11, 2009
On June 11, 2009, the following trade-related bills were introduced:
| misaligned currency | S. 1254. A bill to provide for identification of misaligned currency, require action to correct the misalignment, and for other purposes |
| marks, trade names, etc. | S. 1234. A bill to modify the prohibition on recognition by United States courts of certain rights relating to certain marks, trade names, or commercial names |
| energy | H.R. 2828. A bill to provide the United States with a comprehensive energy package to place Americans on a path to a secure economic future through increased energy innovation, conservation, and production |
If it is determined that any of the above Congressional actions, hearings, or bills warrant more in-depth coverage, such information will be provided separately in a future issue of International Trade Today.