White House Pledges Support for Senate Commerce, Ag, and Transportation Appropriations Bill
The Obama administration supports passage of the Senate amendment to the House fiscal year 2015 appropriations legislation for the departments of Commerce and Justice, along with related agencies and science programs, the White House said in a June 17 statement. The Senate amendment provides omnibus appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (see 14061610).
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
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.
The administration praised funding provided in the amendment for the International Trade Administration, but prescribed boosted appropriations for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). “The administration appreciates the $2.4 million increase over the FY 2014 enacted level, but urges the Congress to provide the FY 2015 Budget request of $56.2 million for USTR,” said the White House statement. “The $1.2 million reduction would limit USTR's ability to conduct major trade negotiations, enforce trade agreements, and pursue new and existing trade disputes.” The White House also vowed to work with Congress to boost funding levels for surface transportation funding in the legislation.