Lawmakers recently introduced the following trade-related bills:
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., plans this month to introduce legislation to prevent the importation of invasive fish and wildlife into the U.S., she said (here). The bill would give the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service greater authority to ban non-native species from being imported or sold in the U.S., including the temporary ability to make emergency designations for wildlife that “pose an imminent threat,” according to her office. The bill would also establish a risk-based process for “injurious species” designations, which block imports of those species unless FWS issues a license, but which now are listed only after troublesome fish and wildlife are introduced into this country.
The House passed a fiscal 2017 spending bill on July 7 that would fund the Consumer Product Safety Commission at $120 million, $5 million less than current spending and $11 million less than the White House request, and would prohibit use of funds for transactions involving Cuban government-confiscated property. The Obama administration threatened to veto the House version of the legislation, in part because of its tightened regulations surrounding commerce with Cuba and the proposed CPSC funding level (see 1606210076).
Lawmakers recently introduced the following trade-related bill:
The Transportation Department will grant $7.7 million to Maine to improve infrastructure at the Port of Portland, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said (here). The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act instituted the FASTLANE grant program that enables the award. “This major seaport is utilized daily by businesses and customers across our state, including L.L. Bean, Poland Spring water, and Aroostook potato growers,” Collins said in a statement. “This funding for the Port of Portland will help create jobs, improve competitiveness, and provide an economic boost for the State of Maine.” Improvements are to include a new mobile harbor crane and other cargo handling equipment, construction of a highway and rail crossing upgrade, and building a new terminal operations and maintenance center after the old one is removed, the statement said. Collins chairs the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee.
The Senate on July 6 voted 65-32 to proceed to final debate on federal mandatory biotech labeling legislation, and a final vote on the bill could happen as early as July 7, Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said in a statement (here). “I’m pleased with the outcome of today’s cloture vote,” Roberts said Wednesday. “This clears the pathway for a final vote on passage, and I remain optimistic sound science and affordable food will prevail. Both farmers and consumers deserve this certainty.” Republican leadership of the committee in a statement said more than 1,000 food and agriculture groups back the bill (here). Under the law, which would supersede state mandatory biotech labeling regulations, including one that took effect in Vermont July 1, companies would have to disclose the presence of GMO ingredients in food via printed text, a symbol or digital link, including a digitally scannable code.
The House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee scheduled a hearing at 10 a.m. July 13 in 1100 Longworth on expanding digital trade and destructing barriers to digital exports through “thoroughly implemented and fully enforced” trade agreements, the subcommittee said (here). “Trade agreements are an important tool to make sure our exporters and their employees can compete on a level playing field and win -- as long as these agreements are done right and are enforced,” subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert, R-Wash., said. “We have a responsibility to negotiate strong trade agreements that create high standards and force our competitors to fully live up to their obligations.”
Forty-seven House lawmakers asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to resolve staffing shortages at passenger and freight facilities of maritime ports, as yearly volume increases, ship traffic spikes and a “muted response from” DHS have caused delays in inspection and clearance that have rippled across the U.S. economy and supply chains, they said in a letter to Johnson (here). Ports can’t afford to pay the overtime costs for CBP personnel authorized by the pilot “559 program” well into the future, and DHS should find more permanent solutions for boosting CBP port staff, the letter says.
Lawmakers recently introduced the following trade-related bills:
The World Trade Organization Information Technology Agreement expansion, which took effect July 1, will make U.S.-made goods more attractive to international consumers by lowering tariffs and will translate to U.S. consumer cost savings on items like printer ink cartridges, LCD TVs, touch screens and video games, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said in a statement (here). “This agreement is more proof that trade agreements, done right, can strengthen our economy and improve the lives of ordinary Americans,” he said in the statement.