Lawmakers introduced the following trade-related bills since International Trade Today's last legislative update:

The Telecommunications Industry Association “urged” Congress to renew Trade Promotion Authority this year, in a news release (here). “With 75 percent of the overall market for telecommunications equipment and related services located outside of the United States, a robust trade policy agenda is critical to enhancing market access and avoiding trade restrictive policies in the global marketplace,” said TIA. “TPA renewal will send a strong signal to other negotiating parties on the priority the United States places on high-standard trade agreements that enhance trade liberalization and market access for U.S. industry.” TIA sent letters to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, asking for TPA’s passage. The Software & Information Industry Association meanwhile sent a letter that day to 18 House Democrats, requesting their support for President Obama’s call for TPA. “SIIA shares President Obama’s view that TPA is necessary to set trade rules that will benefit American workers and companies for years to come,” said Mark MacCarthy, SIIA vice president-public policy, in the release. “TPA would encourage modern trade agreements that recognize this vital need, and that are crucial to our business and economic competitiveness.”

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., introduced the Temporary Duty Suspension Process Act, S-260, on Jan. 27, alongside co-sponsors Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Pat Toomey, R-Pa. The legislation would revamp the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill submission process by directing companies to send tariff suspension requests directly to the International Trade Commission, rather than through lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Senate Banking Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., applauded the introduction of new Iran sanctions legislation during a Jan. 29 hearing, but ten Senate Democrats, including key co-sponsors of the bill, told President Barack Obama they would hold off on passing the legislation until late March. Sens. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., led the campaign to introduce the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015, S-269 (here), on Jan. 27. President Barack Obama continues to pledge a veto (see 1501200072).

Many Democrats on Capitol Hill are reserving judgment on Trade Promotion Authority, and are still potential supporters of the legislation once it surfaces in the coming days and weeks, John Murphy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce senior vice president for International Policy, told reporters on Jan. 28. Murphy declined to comment on how the whip count is shaping up for TPA support, but he said the trade group is optimistic the bill will pass with bipartisan support.

Senate Appropriations ranking member Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., introduced a “clean” Department of Homeland Security funding bill for fiscal year 2015 on Jan. 28, alongside Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. The bill, S-272 (here), omits the riders included in the House-passed DHS funding legislation that would scale back President Barack Obama’s November executive action on immigration. The Senate legislation would provide funding for 21,370 Border Patrol agents and 23,775 CBP officers, the same levels authorized in the House legislation, HR-240 (here).

A bipartisan group of 16 senators introduced the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015, S-269 (here), on Jan. 27, after repeated threats of a veto from President Barack Obama. Passage of the bill will threaten ongoing negotiations between Iran and P5+1 countries, which the U.S. is a part of, said Obama in his State of the Union (see 1501200072).

The entire Democratic caucus in the Senate, along with the chamber’s two independents, urged Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Jan. 27 to pass a Department of Homeland Security funding bill that doesn’t contain immigration policy riders (here). “We are now four months into the fiscal year,” said the letter, led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. “A series of short term continuing resolutions to fund DHS should be off the table.” The House passed a DHS bill earlier in January that would obstruct implementation of President Barack Obama's recent executive action on immigration (see 1501150020). McConnell vowed to allow a vote on that legislation (see 1501260010). The letter's signatories said growing global threats necessitate quick action on DHS funding, but a lapse in the department’s funding on Feb. 28 will cease many CBP operations. As a formality, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., didn’t sign the letter. Reid also called for a clean bill, however, in an emailed statement on Jan. 28 statement.

House Ways and Means Committee members pressed U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to ensure U.S. agricultural and footwear products reap the benefits of a Trans-Pacific Partnership during the committee’s Jan. 27 hearing on U.S. trade policy. Froman repeatedly said a final TPP pact will slash duties and provide other market access improvements for those products.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., plans to co-sponsor the introduction of the Nuclear Weapons Free Iran Act, alongside Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill, Schumer told reporters on Jan. 26. The legislation would force the Obama administration to level sanctions on Iran if the country violates any terms of ongoing nuclear enrichment negotiations. "I intend to co-sponsor it, but we're having a meeting among the Democrats and figuring out the best strategy," Schumer said. Schumer, the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, co-sponsored the Nuclear Weapons Free Iran Act the last time lawmakers introduced the bill in December 2013 (here). President Barack Obama has vowed to veto the sanctions (see 1501200072). Kirk and other supporters are aiming for a veto-proof, 67-vote majority (see 1412300001).