Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine) urged members of the transportation reauthorization conference committees to include "Buy America" provisions within the Senate-passed bill (S 1813). A 47-member conference committee is working to iron out differences in Senate and House legislation that would reauthorize federal-aid programs for highways.
Reform of export controls can strengthen the space industry base, satellite and export policy experts said at the the National Space Society’s International Space Development Conference in Washington May 25. Recent developments in satellite export control include House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, with an amendment authorizing the president to remove types of satellites and their components from the conditions of the U.S. Munitions List (See ITT's Online Archives 12052103).
Increased Food and Drug Administration oversight of imported pharmaceuticals is a key feature of the FDA funding bill, called the FDA Safety & Innovation Act, S-3187, approved by the Senate 96-1 May 24. The bill still awaits House action. The FDA has traditionally focused its inspections on U.S. factories, but about 80 percent of the ingredients used in U.S. medicines are now made overseas, officials said. Among other things, the bill would increase inspections of foreign drug manufacturers, require foreign manufacturers to register additional information about their facilities with the FDA and enhance penalties for drug counterfeiting.
The Ways and Means Committee is seeking public comment on about 1,300 Miscellaneous Tariff Bills (MTBs) introduced by nearly 80 House Republicans and 60 House Democrats, it said May 24. Each bill, along with the accompanying bill description and disclosure form, is available on the committee website. Comments are due by June 22 through an online comment submission process. Submissions in any other format will not be accepted or considered.
Sen. Ron Wyden D-Ore., introduced a bill May 23 to clarify the U.S. Trade Representative's duty to share trade agreement information with all members of Congress. Wyden said the bill stems from the lack of transparency in the negotiations over the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), in a statement. Wyden claimed that "some in the executive branch" are denying trade negotiation information to members who do not belong to the Congressional Oversight Group. "The majority of Congress is being kept in the dark as to the substance of the TPP negotiations, while representatives of U.S. corporations -- like Halliburton, Chevron, PHRMA, Comcast, and the Motion Picture Association of America -- are being consulted and made privy to details of the agreement." Wyden said he "continue[s] to be denied a full understanding of what the [U.S. Trade Representative] is seeking in the agreement," and his legislation would "ensure that the representatives elected by the American people are afforded the same level of influence over our nation's policies as the paid representatives of PHRMA, Halliburton and the Motion Picture Association."
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., introduced a bill that would authorize the Administration to tailor export restrictions on less sensitive satellites. The Safeguarding United States Leadership and Security Act, S-3211, is the companion to the House bill, HR-3288 introduced by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif. (see ITT Online Archives 12052103). Bennet's bill is based on recommendations from the Defense and State departments that suggested a removal of some satellites and equipment from the U.S. Munitions List (USML), Bennet said. It would allow the president to place non-critical satellites on the Commerce Control List (CCL), allowing them to be regulated "in a manner consistent with other items that could serve both a commercial and military purpose." It also would prohibit the transfer of satellites to countries like China, Iran, Cuba and to "state sponsors of terrorism identified under the Export Administration Act," he said.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved May 22, 2012, FY2013 funding legislation for the Department of Homeland Security, totaling $45.2 billion in discretionary budget authority, a reduction of $1 billion below the FY 2012 level. According to the Senate committee's press release, the bill would provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection $11.973 billion, $378 million above fiscal year 2012. The Senate and House must still approve the appropriations bills. This level would:
The International Sugar Trade Coalition voiced approval for the Farm Bill, recently passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee, for providing sugar producers in developing nations a guaranteed level of access to the U.S. sugar market at fair predictable prices. The ISTC wrote to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) to express its support for the Farm Bill, which would extend the current sugar policy through 2017. Attempts to weaken this policy through amendments would hurt U.S. farmers and poor growers in developing countries where sugar is a key economic driver, said ISTC. An end to the sugar program would reward only a handful of large food companies and agricultural superpower like Brazil, it said.
The following are the trade-related hearings scheduled from May 21-25, 2012:
The House of Representatives took a major step to change export regulations for commercial satellites May 18 when it passed the $643 billion FY13 National Defense Authorization bill (HR-4310). The bill included an amendment to reduce the cost and burden for U.S. manufacturers to export domestic satellites and components, some satellite industry executives said. Lawmakers approved the bill by a 299-120 vote despite a veto threat from the White House.