NFTC Gives Congress Largely Positive Grades on Trade Legislation

October 9, 2012 by Tim Warren|Congress

The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and USA*Engage gave Congress overall positive scores in a new interim report card on trade issues. Some 64 percent of Senators and 43 percent of Representatives received an A or B for "enacting trade legislation critical to U.S. economic growth and job creation," they said. Most legislative movement had to do with pending free trade agreements or reauthorization of existing programs, rather than new major trade initiatives, according to their report. A final report will be released at the end this Congress.

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"Important legislation that had been stalled for more than four years -- including the free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama -- was enacted, illustrating that this Congress worked together in a bipartisan manner to advance the U.S. trade agenda, helping to boost U.S. economic growth, increase exports and support American job creation," said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. "While there were a number of positive trade-related votes, we are disappointed that there has been no action on final approval of legislation granting Russia permanent normal trade relations (PNTR). We continue to strongly urge Congress to take action on Russia PNTR immediately when Members return to Washington in November, and we look forward to what should be a heavy trade agenda in 2013."

The highest scorers in the Senate included Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) The Report Card scored Senators on eight votes:

China Currency Bill: S. 1619, Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2011 (On Passage of the Bill)
U.S.-Colombia FTA: H.R. 3078, United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
U.S.-Korea FTA: H.R. 3080, United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
U.S.-Panama FTA: H.R. 3079, United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
Trade Adjustment Assistance: H.R. 2832, Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011
Export-Import Act: H.R. 2072, Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012
Sugar Program Reform Amendment: Amdt. 2433 to S. 3240, Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012
Sugar Program Repeal Amendment: Amdt. 2393 to S. 3240, Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012

Top scoring House members were Reps. Bob Dold (R-Ill.), Doc Hastings (D-Wash.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Harold Rogers (R-Ky.). For members of the House, votes on the following pieces of legislation were considered:

U.S.-Colombia FTA: H.R. 3078, United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
U.S.-Korea FTA: H.R. 3080, United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
U.S.-Panama FTA: H.R. 3079, United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
Trade Adjustment Assistance: H.R. 2832, Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011
Motion to Recommit H.R. 3078: On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: To implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement
Iran Sanctions: H.R. 1905, To strengthen Iran sanctions laws for the purpose of compelling Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and other threatening activities, and for other purposes
Export-Import Act: H.R. 2072, Securing American Jobs Through Exports Act of 2011 (On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended)
H.R. 6429: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote innovation, investment, and research in the United States, to eliminate the diversity immigrant program, and for other purposes (On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass)