The Senate Homeland Security Committee on Nov. 14, advanced the nomination of Kirstjen Nielsen to be homeland security secretary by a vote of 11-4, the committee announced. “I hope the Senate will take up Ms. Nielsen’s nomination as quickly as possible,” committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said in a statement. A spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said it's unknown exactly when the full Senate might vote on whether to confirm Nielsen.
A group of more than 350 companies and trade associations urged Congress in a Nov. 14 letter to renew the Generalized System of Preferences by its expiration at the end of the year, noting termination would cost U.S. companies more than $2 million per day in tariffs. “GSP supports American manufacturing by reducing costs of imported inputs, machinery and equipment, and helps American families make ends meet by lowering the costs of consumer goods imported duty free,” says the letter sent to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., as well as to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, and ranking member Richard Neal, D-Mass.
Lawmakers recently introduced the following trade-related bills:
New Mexico senators called for an upcoming Agriculture Department rule to direct the use of clear, on-package labels for genetically modified organism ingredients in food labeling, in a letter dated Nov. 8. Legislation signed into law in July 2016 requires USDA to develop a standard by July 29, 2018, for the disclosure of the presence of GMO ingredients in food via printed text, symbol or digital link, including a digitally scannable quick response (QR) code (see 1607140058). In their letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall said the option to use QR codes would pose challenges to some rural and older Americans’ ability to access nutritional information. “QR codes or other electronic disclosure methods should not be used until broadband internet access and smartphone adoption are near universal, and no longer present obstacles to consumer access to bioengineered ingredient information.” Heinrich and Udall also called for digital or electronic disclosure methods to not be employed until all grocery stores provide QR code scanners in “every aisle” and until they provide secure high-speed internet for shoppers who would like to use their smartphones to access the disclosures.
Lawmakers recently introduced the following trade-related bill:
The Senate Commerce Committee on Nov. 8 unanimously cleared the nomination of Nazakhtar Nikakhtar to be assistant secretary of commerce for industry and analysis in the International Trade Administration, and by one vote cleared the nomination of Dana Baiocco to be a commissioner on the Consumer Product Safety Commission, strictly along party lines. Chairman John Thune, R-N.D., cast the deciding vote of a 14-13 tally to advance Baiocco. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., continues to hold the nominations of Nikakhtar and of Gilbert Kaplan to be under secretary of commerce for international trade, until the Commerce Department gives him more information on the status of Section 232 investigations into steel and aluminum imports, a Schumer spokesman confirmed. Schumer announced the holds last month (see 1710270015). The offices of Schumer and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., didn’t comment.
Forthcoming Senate tax legislation won’t include a 20 percent excise tax on payments for imports from U.S. corporations to their related foreign firms, diverging from the House bill introduced last week (see 1711060056), CNBC reported. The initial version of the Senate bill is expected to be released this week, the report says. “Vocal opponents” of the House excise proposal include conservative advocacy group Heritage Action, which has called it a “backdoor border adjustment tax,” the report says. The Organization for International Investment has also expressed concern, CNBC reported. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, contended that the earlier House border adjustment proposal is “nowhere near” the excise tax provision, according to the story. The Senate Finance Committee didn’t comment.
Homeland Security secretary nominee Kirstjen Nielsen told senators Nov. 8 that port security should “evolve with the times,” as senators pressed her to dedicate as many resources as possible to employee recruitment and retention, including for CBP port officers. During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and James Lankford, R-Okla., urged Nielsen to shore up the Department of Homeland Security’s hiring and retention processes, as CBP is running an officer shortage of 3,500 positions and an agriculture specialist shortage of more than 600 positions.
Lawmakers recently introduced the following trade-related bills:
A U.S. NAFTA withdrawal would devastate farm jobs in North Dakota and across the U.S., U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer acknowledged in a call with Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., according to a Nov. 6 Heitkamp press release. “He pledged to continue his engagement with me and other advocates for a robust agriculture exports policy as NAFTA discussions continue,” Heitkamp said in a statement. “We can and must support American workers and level the playing field for manufacturing jobs, but not at the expense of farm jobs.” Heitkamp cited “real concerns” that agriculture is getting left behind” in NAFTA talks. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., in a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce last week expressed concerns about the agricultural piece of negotiations, saying his committee and its House counterpart are fighting against wide-ranging sentiments that NAFTA hasn’t helped the economy (see 1710310047). The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative didn’t comment.