Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions
"Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions" is a daily International Trade Today compilation of the most relevant legislation, hearings, and actions by Congress involving international trade. The following are brief summaries of recent Capitol Hill actions:
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Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
House Passes HELP Act for Haiti on May 5, 2010
On May 5, 2010, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5160, the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act of 2010, amended, under a suspension of the rules. A House Ways and Means Committee press release notes that the legislation now goes to the Senate where it is expected to receive strong bipartisan support. (See ITT’s 05/06/10 news, (Ref: 10050605), for notice on passage of H.R. 5160.)
Coalition Opposes Amendments to FAAAA Trucking Exemptions
The American Apparel and Footwear Association has announced that the Clean and Sustainable Transportation Coalition has sent a letter to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit stating opposition to Proposed Amendments to Trucking Exemptions in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA).
House Committee Amends, Orders Reported Conflict Minerals Bill
On April 28, 2010, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a markup of H.R. 4128, the Conflict Minerals Trade Act. During the markup, the Committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute (which is not yet publicly available). As introduced, H.R. 4128 would require importers of certain articles that are included on a potential conflict goods list to certify that such articles contain conflict minerals or are conflict mineral free, set forth penalties for introduction of goods containing conflict mineral into the U.S., etc.
Sen Finance Leaders Call for Quick Passage of Haiti HELP Bill
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus (D) and Ranking Member Grassley (R) hailed passage the May 5, 2010 passage by the House of Representatives of legislation to help speed Haiti’s economic recovery following January's earthquake. Senators Baucus and Grassley called for swift passage of the Haiti legislation in the Senate.
Any “Capitol Hill Trade Action” warranting more in-depth coverage will be summarized individually in a future issue of International Trade Today.