House Scheduled to Consider Bill to Put a Hold on FTAs, Two Other "Make it in America" Bills
On July 20, 2010, House Majority Leader Hoyer (D) announced a new “Make it in America” agenda for the House of Representatives to help the U.S. expand its manufacturing base and encourage people to make goods in the U.S.
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MTB and SECTORS Act Already Passed House as Part of “Make it in America”
Two “Make it in America” bills have already been passed by the House:
U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act. H.R. 4380, previously called the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2009, passed the House on July 21, 2010.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 07/22/10 news, 10072225, for BP summary of the House’s passage of H.R. 4380.)
SECTORS Act. H.R. 1855, the Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act of 2010, was passed by the House on July 19, 2010.
House Bill to Put a Hold on FTAs, and Two Other Bills, to be Considered Next
The House is scheduled to consider these three “Make it in America” bills during the week of July 26, 2010.
End the Trade Deficit Act. H.R. 1875 would establish the Emergency Commission to End the Trade Deficit, which would develop a trade policy plan to eliminate the U.S. merchandise trade deficit and develop a competitive trade policy.
The bill would also require the Commission to report to the President and to Congress on: (1) its findings and conclusions; (2) a detailed plan for reducing both the overall trade deficit and specific bilateral trade deficits; and (3) any recommendations for administrative and legislative actions necessary for such reductions. The report would be due not later than 16 months after enactment.
In addition, H.R. 1875 would prohibit the President from submitting to Congress any free trade agreement or legislation implementing one until: (1) the report has been delivered to Congress and to the President; and (2) specified congressional committees have completed a hearing on it.
National Manufacturing Strategy Act. H.R. 4692 would require the President to submit a national manufacturing strategy to Congress every four years. The bill would also require the President, in developing each Strategy, to convene a Manufacturing Strategy Task Force to make recommendations regarding specified matters for incorporation into the Strategy, including short- and long-term goals for the manufacturing sector. In addition, the bill would require the President to convene a President's Manufacturing Strategy Board to provide information and recommendations regarding the needs of, and opportunities for, the U.S. manufacturing sector.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 07/19/10 news, 10071923, for BP summary on the July 14, 2010 hearing on H.R. 4692.)
Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act. H.R. 5156 would create a clean energy technology manufacturing and export assistance fund, implement a clean energy technology export strategy, etc.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 07/26/10 news, 10072626, for BP summary of H.R. 5156.)
More Bills Expected Under “Make it in America” Agenda
The Majority Leader notes that the bills discussed above are only a start, and that there are more to come this week and throughout the fall, including a bill to prevent outsourcing and create infrastructure jobs.