On September 29, 2010, the Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 510, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of the food supply. Subsequently, the motion to proceed was withdrawn.
House Energy and Commerce Committee sources have stated that they expect a new hearing to be scheduled on a discussion draft of drug safety legislation, but noted that no time has yet been set. Among other things, the draft legislation would require importer and custom broker registration for drugs, increased inspections and higher penalties. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 09/22/10 and 09/30/10 news, 10092210 and 10093003, for BP summaries of the discussion draft and the canceled September 30, 2010 hearing on it.)
On September 29, 2010, the Senate concurred in the amendment of the House of Representatives to H.R. 3619, to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2010, with amendments. The House then agreed to the Senate's amendments.
On September 29, 2010, the Senate passed H. Con. Res. 321, providing for conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and Senate until November 15, 2010.
On September 29, 2010, the Senate passed H.R. 3081, making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2011, after agreeing to the motion to proceed and adopting an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
On September 28, 2010, the Senate passed S. 3243, to require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to administer polygraph examinations to all applicants for law enforcement position with CBP, to require CBP to initiate all periodic background reinvestigations of certain law enforcement personnel, after agreeing to the committee amendment.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health has postponed "until a later date" its recently announced September 30, 2010 hearing on a discussion draft of drug safety legislation. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/22/10 news, 10092210, for BP summary announcing the availability of the discussion draft.)
On September 28, 2010, 36 trade and other associations sent a letter to House leaders urging them to oppose H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act. The letter called on the Administration to develop a robust bilateral and multilateral approach to achieve tangible results not only on China’s exchange rate polices, but also on other Chinese policies that are harming U.S. businesses, workers, and farmers.
On September 29, 2010, the American Apparel and Footwear Association issued a statement following the House passage of H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform and Fair Trade Act. AAFA states that as the bill moves to the Senate for consideration, the U.S. apparel and footwear industry will continue to warn about the perils of H.R. 2378.