November 23, 2008
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House

H.R. 1446, Standard Trade Negotiating Authority Act
Sponsor: Rep. Phil English, R-Pa.
Introduced: April 4, 2001
Committees: House Ways and Means, Rules
Description: H.R. 1446 would give the president fast-track trade-negotiating authority but also mandate extensive cooperation on trade issues between the president and Congress.
H.R. 1467, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.
Introduced: April 4, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 1467 would withdraw permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) from China. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., introduced the bill in the wake of China's delay in releasing a U.S. Navy plane (and the 24 military personnel on it) that was forced to land in China after a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter jet. High-tech officials were key players in the 2000 battle to grant PNTR to China.
H.R. 1484, United States-Jordan Free Trade Area Implementation Act
Sponsor: Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich.
Introduced: April 4, 2001
Committees: House Ways and Means, Judiciary
Description: H.R. 1484 would implement a free-trade agreement between the United States and Jordan. The Bush administration has yet to send the pact, which includes controversial language on labor rights and the environment, to Congress for ratification.
H.R. 1553, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif.
Introduced: April 24, 2001
Committees: House International Relations, Armed Services
Description: H.R. 1553 would give the president the flexibility to choose a new system for controlling exports of high-performance computers. It is similar to a Senate measure, S.591, that was added to a broader export-control bill, S. 149.
H.R. 1566, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa
Introduced: April 24, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 1566 would urge the president to initiate talks with officials in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand to determine the feasibility of a trade pact with those countries.
H.R. 1782, Small Business Export Enhancement Act
Sponsor: Rep. Donald Manzullo, R-Ill.
Introduced: May 9, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 1782 would create the position of assistant U.S. trade representative for small business in an effort to foster exports from small businesses that have more opportunities for overseas sales thanks to the Internet.
H.R. 2149, Trade Promotion Authority Act
Sponsor: Rep. Philip Crane, R-Ill.
Introduced: June 13, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means, Rules
Description: H.R. 2149 would renew the president's trade-negotiating authority, also knows as "fast track." The bill would restore the president's authority across a wide range of goods and services, including intellectual property and e-commerce. The measure is silent on labor and environmental standards, instead focusing exclusively upon trade matters, but it would maintain presidential prerogative to negotiate "side agreements" on such issues.
H.R. 2257
Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.
Introduced: June 20, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 2257 would temporarily suspend the duty on electrical machines designed for children's education. The aim of the bill is to allow companies that make educational toys to compete with other toy manufacturers. Bill sponsor Barbara Lee, D-Calif., introduced the measure to benefit LeapFrog SchoolHouse, a company in her district that is behind the "Leap Into Learning" technology that helps children read books.
H.R. 2557, Export Administration Act
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
Introduced: July 18, 2001
Committee: House International Relations
Description: H.R. 2557 would restore and modify the export-control licensing system on products that could have dual uses in peacetime and war. Rep. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said he introduced H.R. 2557 because "it is high time for the Congress to responsibly legislate export controls." Menendez called attention to "new threats" to the United States, including cyber warfare. The bill is identical to a Senate measure, S. 149, and similar House bills, H.R. 2568 and H.R. 2581 also were introduced.
H.R. 2568, Export Administration Act
Sponsor: Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif.
Introduced: July 19, 2001
Committee: House International Relations
Description: H.R. 2568 would restore and modify the export-control licensing system on products that could have dual uses in peacetime and war. The bill is identical to a Senate measure, S. 149, and similar House bills, H.R. 2557 and H.R. 2581, also were introduced.
H.R. 2581, Export Administration Act
Sponsor: Rep. Benjamin Gilman, R-N.Y.
Introduced: July 20, 2001
Committees: House International Relations, Rules
Description: H.R.2581 would restore and modify the export-control licensing system on products that could have dual uses in peacetime and war. The bill is largely identical to a Senate measure, S. 149, that would renew the Export Administration Act. The key difference between H.R. 2581 and S. 149 is language in H.R. 2581 that concerns nuclear transfers to North Korea. The House International Relations Committee approved H.R. 2581 on a 26-7 vote Aug. 1, 2001. Similar export-control bills, H.R. 2557 and H.R. 2568, also were introduced.
H.R. 2602, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill.
Introduced: July 24, 2001
Committee: House International Relations
Final Action: Passed by the House
Description: H.R. 2602 would extend the Export Administration Act (EAA) until Nov. 20, 2001. First enacted in 1979, the EAA is set to expire Aug. 20. Bill sponsor Henry Hyde, R-Ill., called his legislation a "stopgap measure" to continue the existing regime of export controls on sensitive goods and technology until Congress decides whether to revise the law and extend it for a longer timeframe. The House International Relations Committee approved the bill by voice vote July 25, 2001, and the House passed it by voice vote July 30. Related measures include S. 149, H.R. 2557, H.R. 2568 and H.R. 2581.
H.R. 2603, United States-Jordan Free Trade Area Implementation Act
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif.
Introduced: July 24, 2001
Committees: House Ways and Means, Judiciary
Final Action: Signed into law (PL 107-43)
Description: H.R. 2603 would implement the U.S.-Jordan free-trade agreement. The agreement would: eliminate tariffs over a decade on nearly all goods traded between the countries; enforce intellectual property rights; establish core labor-protection standards; liberalize e-commerce rules; and provide some barriers to environmental violations linked to trade. The deal is the first to include principles on maintaining open markets for e-commerce. The House Ways and Means Committee approved H.R. 2603 by voice vote July 26, 2001.
H.R. 2613, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C.
Introduced: July 24, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 2613 would authorize an additional 26 weeks of living assistance to workers who enroll in a government-backed retraining program. Congress created the Trade Adjustment Assistance program under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to help squelch the fear of job losses from the trade deal. Some workers use the aid to train for jobs in the technology sector. The bill would increase the authorization for living assistance under the program to 104 weeks, making it equivalent with the length of their schooling under the program. Related measures, H.R. 2810 and S. 1029, were introduced.
H.R. 2810, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas
Introduced: Aug. 2, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 2810 would authorize a doubling of the aid to displaced workers who enroll in a government-backed retraining program. Congress created the Trade Adjustment Assistance program under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement to help squelch the fear of job losses from the trade deal. Some of the workers in the program retrain for technology jobs. The bill would reauthorize the program for five more years and reserve up to $60 million per year for it. Related measures, H.R. 2613 and S. 1209, were introduced.
H.R. 3005, Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif.
Introduced: Oct. 3, 2001
Committees: House Ways and Means, Rules
Final Action: Passed by the House
Description: H.R. 3005 would grant the president the authority to negotiate free-trade agreement without giving Congress an opportunity to amend any eventual deals. The compromise bill would put labor and environment on par with traditional trade issues when it comes to penalties. A toolbox of penalties, not excluding sanctions or fines, would be available to ensure that countries enforce their own labor and environmental standards. The ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee filed a competing bill, H.R. 3019, a day later. Ways and Means approved H.R. 3005 on a 26-13 vote Oct. 9, 2001, and the House passed it by a dramatic one-vote margin, 215-214 on Dec. 6, after rejecting the language of the Democratic alternative on a procedural vote.
H.R. 3008, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn.
Introduced: Oct. 3, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 3008 would reauthorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance program for two years. Congress created the program under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to help squelch fears of job losses from the trade deal. Some workers use the aid to train for technology jobs. The program is set to expire this year; the bill would extend it through Sept. 30, 2003.
H.R. 3009, Trade Act
Sponsor: Rep. Philip Crane, R-Ill.
Introduced: Oct. 3, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
\ Final Action: Passed by the House
Description: H.R. 3009 is an omnibus trade bill that, among other things, restores presidential trade-negotiating authority. That "fast track" authority reserves the right for Congress to only approve or reject entire trade deals; no amendments are allowed. The measure, however, lets Congress adopt a non-binding resolution disapproving of trade deals, a vehicle that could give lawmakers the chance to send a message to the administration about its negotiations. The legislation also expands aid for workers who lose their jobs because of trade deals.
H.R. 3019, Comprehensive Trade Negotiating Authority Act
Sponsor: Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.
Introduced: Oct. 4, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 3019 would grant trade-negotiating authority to the president. Introduced in response to a competing measure, H.R. 3005, filed a day earlier, the legislation would do more than seek to make sure countries enforce their own labor standards and instead would adopt the standards of the International Labor Organization. The bill also includes tougher language on ensuring that trade deals include environmental protections. The House rejected the language of the bill on a 162-267 procedural vote Dec. 6, 2001, then passed the competing measure by a dramatic one-vote margin, 215-214.
H.R. 3189, Export Extension Act
Sponsor: Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill.
Introduced: Oct. 31, 2001
Committee: House International Relations
Final Action: Passed by the House
Description: H.R. 3189 would extend the Export Administration Act (EAA) until April 20, 2002. The EAA is a system of export controls for "dual-use" items -- commercial products that could have military uses. The bill would renew the act so the nation need not continue controlling exports by a presidential executive order imposed in August 2001 under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
H.R. 3359, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers, Farmers, Communities and Firms Act
Sponsor: Rep. Ken Bentsen, D-Texas
Introduced: Nov. 28, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 3359 would consolidate federal programs that provide aid to workers who lose their jobs as the result of trade deals in an effort to improve the programs. The bill would provide community-based economic development assistance for areas hurt the most by the deals. Among other things, grants provided through the program could be used to help communities improve their Internet and telecommunications services in an effort to attract businesses. Some workers use the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, created under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), to train for jobs in the technology sector. Bill sponsor Ken Bentsen, D-Texas, introduced an amended version of H.R. 3359 in February 2002. It is numbered H.R. 3670.
H.R. 3422, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.
Introduced: Dec. 6, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 3422 would create a Congressional Trade Office whose mission would be to provide lawmakers with independent, nonpartisan analysis of information about trade policies. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., introduced similar bills, S. 274 and S. 1347, earlier this year and may seek to include such language in trade-negotiating legislation when his panel votes on the issue this week.
H.R. 3553, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif.
Introduced: Dec. 20, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R.3553 would extend normal trade relations to products imported from Russia. A Senate companion bill, S.1861, was introduced.
H.R. 3670, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers, Farmers, Fishermen, Communities, and Firms Act
Sponsor: Rep. Ken Bentsen, D-Texas
Introduced: Feb. 4, 2002
Committees: House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce
Description: H.R. 3670 seeks to improve federal programs that provide aid to workers who lose their jobs as the result of trade deals. The bill would provide community-based economic development assistance for areas hurt the most by the deals. Among other things, grants provided through the program could be used to help communities improve their Internet and telecommunications services in an effort to attract businesses. Some workers use the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, created under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), to train for jobs in the technology sector. Bill sponsor Ken Bentsen, D-Texas, introduced a nearly identical bill, H.R. 3359, in November 2001.
H.R. 3768, Worker Retraining Incentive Act
Sponsor: Rep. John Baldacci, D-Maine
Introduced: Feb. 14, 2002
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 3768 would amend the tax code to provide tax credits to companies that hire workers retrained in a program for people who lose their jobs as the result of trade agreements. Congress created the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement to help squelch the fear of job losses from the trade deal. Some of the workers in the program retrain for technology jobs.
H.R. 3939
Sponsor: Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio
Introduced: March 12, 2002
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 3939 would grant normal trade relations to Ukraine for products it exports to the United States. The measure would authorize the president to certify that Ukraine has met required standards on property rights, religious freedom and human rights that are necessary to be treated like other trading partners. A similar measure, H.R. 3953, also was introduced.
H.R. 3953
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Schaffer, R-Colo.
Introduced: March 13, 2002
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 3953 would grant normal trade relations to Ukraine for products it exports to the United States. The measure would authorize the president to certify that Ukraine has met required standards on property rights, religious freedom and human rights that are necessary to be treated like other trading partners. A similar measure, H.R. 3939, also was introduced.
H.R. 3979
Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Pitts, R-Pa.
Introduced: March 14, 2002
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 3979 would grant normal trade relations to Uzbekistan for products it exports to the United States. The measure would authorize the president to certify that Ukraine has met required standards on property rights, religious freedom and human rights that are necessary to be treated like other trading partners.
H.R. 4478
Sponsor: Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas
Introduced: April 17, 2002
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H.R. 4478 would grant normal trade relations to Yugoslavia for products it exports to the United States. The measure would authorize the president to certify that Yugoslavia has met required standards on property rights, religious freedom and human rights that are necessary to be treated like other trading partners.
H.J. Res. 51
Sponsor: Rep. Dick Armey, R-Texas
Introduced: June 12, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Final Action: Signed into law (PL 107-52)
Description: H.J. Res. 51 would approve of President Bush's June 8, 2001, decision to renew normal trade relations with Vietnam.
H.J. Res. 55
Sponsor: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif.
Introduced: June 21, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Final Action: Failed
Description: H.J. Res. 55 would disapprove of the extension of normal trade relations to Vietnam.
H. Con. Res. 121, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Hoeffel, D-Pa.
Introduced: May 1, 2001
Committee: House International Relations
Description: H. Con. Res. 121 would express the sense of Congress that the federal government should conduct a policy review of its relations with China. The resolution notes the Chinese government's alleged human rights abuses, its detainment of a U.S. military surveillance plane, its "increasingly provocative military actions" toward Taiwan, and its efforts to enter the World Trade Organization and increase trade with the United States as justification for the policy review, which would have no set timetable. The House International Relations Committee included similar language in a bill, H.R. 1642, to reauthorize foreign aid.
H. Con. Res. 132, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif.
Introduced: May 10, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H. Con. Res. 132 would express the sense of Congress on the importance of promoting global e-commerce. The measure would call on the Bush administration to make international e-commerce a top priority, and to encourage members of the World Trade Organization to take steps to foster e-commerce and reject barriers that could hurt "digital trade." A Senate companion measure, S. Con. Res. 37, was introduced.
H. Con. Res. 262, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Phil English, R-Pa.
Introduced: Nov. 6, 2001
Committee: House Ways and Means
Final Action: Passed by the House
Description: H. Con. Res. 262 is a non-binding resolution that would express Congress' will that the president preserve the United States' ability to enforce its own laws in any trade agreements reached at the World Trade Organization talks in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001 or at any subsequent talks.

Senate

S. 136, Fast Track Trade Negotiating Authority Act
Sponsor: Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas
Introduced: Jan. 22, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 136 would amend the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to extend fast-track trade-negotiating authority to the president through Dec. 31, 2004. The bill is one of four fast-track-related measures Gramm introduced the same day. The others are S. 137, S. 138 and S. 140.
S. 137, Americas Free Trade Act
Sponsor: Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas
Introduced: Jan. 22, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 137 would grant the president limited fast-track trade-negotiating authority for free-trade agreements with countries in the Western hemisphere except Cuba. The bill is one of four fast-track-related measures Gramm introduced the same day. The others are S. 136, S. 138 and S. 140.
S. 138, Chile-NAFTA Accession Act
Sponsor: Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas
Introduced: Jan. 22, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 138 would grant the president limited fast-track trade-negotiating authority for discussions with Chile. The bill would apply fast-track rules either to negotiations related to Chile's accession to the North American Free Trade Agreement or to a bilateral U.S.-Chilean trade deal. Any agreements would have to be reached before Dec. 31, 2002. The bill is one of four fast-track-related measures Gramm introduced the same day. The others are S. 136, S. 137 and S. 140.
S. 140, United Kingdom-NAFTA Accession Act
Sponsor: Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas
Introduced: Jan. 22, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 140 would grant the president limited fast-track trade-negotiating authority for discussions with the United Kingdom. The bill would apply fast-track rules either to negotiations related to U.K. accession to the North American Free Trade Agreement or to a bilateral U.S.-U.K. trade deal. Any agreements would have to be reached before Dec. 31, 2003. The bill is one of four fast-track-related measures Gramm introduced the same day. The others are S. 136, S. 137 and S. 13.
S. 149, Export Administration Act
Sponsor: Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyo.
Introduced: Jan. 23, 2001
Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Final Action:Passed by the Senate
Description: S. 149 seeks to reduce barriers for exporting U.S. high-tech equipment in the global marketplace while also addressing security concerns and the desire to help U.S. businesses be more competitive. The bill would reauthorize the long-expired Export Administration Act, which sets standards on exports of high-performance computers and other products considered important to national security. An existing temporary export-control law expires Aug. 20, 2000. The Senate Banking Committee approved the bill by a vote of 19-1 on March 22, and the Senate passed an amended version on an 85-14 vote Sept. 6.
S. 274
Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Introduced: Feb. 7, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 274 would create a Congressional Trade Office whose mission would be to provide lawmakers with independent, nonpartisan analysis of information about trade policies. Bill sponsor Max Baucus, D-Mont., said the measure is designed in part to curb the transfer of responsibility for trade policy from Congress to the executive branch. The bill would not specify an authorization amount for the office.
S. 586, Chile Fast Track Act
Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.
Introduced: March 21, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 586 would grant the president limited fast-track trade-negotiating authority for discussions with Chile in an effort to add that South American nation to the nations that are parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Bill sponsor Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., sees his measure as the first step toward expanding NAFTA to countries in the Western hemisphere other than the United States, Canada and Mexico, the original three signatories to the pact. Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, introduced a related measure, S. 138.
S. 591, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah
Introduced: March 21, 2001
Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Description: S. 591 repeal a standard that governs the export of high-performance computers. Under the current version of the Export Administration Act (EAA), exports of high-performance computers are limited based on the millions of theoretical operations per second (MTOPS) they can perform. The computer industry long has said the MTOPS standard is outdated and restrictive. Bill sponsor Robert Bennett, R-Utah, successfully added the language of his measure to a broader bill, S. 149, that would reauthorize the EAA.
S. 599, Permanent Trade-Promotion Authority and Market Access Act
Sponsor: Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.
Introduced: March 22, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 599 would give the president permanent trade-promotion authority ("fast track") in an effort to speed presidential negotiation, and Senate ratification, of future trade deals. The bill would amend the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. Senate Banking, Housing and the Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Gramm, R-Texas, a cosponsor of S. 599, introduced a related bill that would renew presidential trade-promotion authority through Dec. 31, 2004.
S. 935, United States-Commonwealth of Australia Free Trade Agreement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Introduced: May 23, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 935 would grant the president limited trade-negotiating authority for talks with Australia. The bill is one of three that seeks to break the impasse over granting the president sweeping "fast track" authority for multinational trade deals by instead granting limited authority for pacts with specific countries. The other two measures, S. 943 and S. 944, would grant similar limited authority for agreements with New Zealand and South Korea. The bills also would require that in addition to opening markets between the United States and the countries in question, any trade deals also would have to address issues such as intellectual property protection, e-commerce, and labor and environmental standards.
S. 943, United States-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Introduced: May 23, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 943 would grant the president limited trade-negotiating authority for talks with New Zealand. The bill is one of three that seeks to break the impasse over granting the president sweeping "fast track" authority for multinational trade deals by instead granting limited authority for pacts with specific countries. The other two measures, S. 935 and S. 944, would grant similar limited authority for agreements with Australia and South Korea. The bills also would require that in addition to opening markets between the United States and the countries in question, any trade deals also would have to address issues such as intellectual property protection, e-commerce, and labor and environmental standards.
S. 944, United States-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Introduced: May 23, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 944 would grant the president limited trade-negotiating authority for talks with South Korea. The bill is one of three that seeks to break the impasse over granting the president sweeping "fast track" authority for multinational trade deals by instead granting limited authority for pacts with specific countries. The other two measures, S. 935 and S. 943, would grant similar limited authority for agreements with Australia and New Zealand. The bills also would require that in addition to opening markets between the United States and the countries in question, any trade deals also would have to address issues such as intellectual property protection, e-commerce, and labor and environmental standards.
S. 1104, Trade Promotion Act
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla.
Introduced: June 26, 2000
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 1104 represents what its cosponsors, Democrat Bob Graham of Florida and Republican Frank Murkowski of Alaska, call a compromise on efforts to renew presidential trade-negotiating authority. The bill would outline the objectives the president should pursue in any trade talks, including a call for reduced trade barriers on information technologies and the same trade treatment for the electronic delivery of products as for more traditional delivery. It also would call for the president to consider labor and environmental concerns as being on par with commercial concerns when negotiating trade deals. The measure encompasses the trade principles unveiled by moderate New Democrats in May 2001.
S. 1209, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers, Farmers, Communities and Firms Act
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.
Introduced: July 19, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 1209 would create a two-tier system for providing aid both to workers and communities hurt by international trade agreements. Congress created the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement to help squelch the fear of job losses from the trade deal. Some of the workers in the program retrain for technology jobs. The bill would overhaul the TAA by, among other things, authorizing: more benefits for displaced workers, allowances for relocation and job searches, support services such as child care, wage insurance, a tax credit for health insurance premiums. It also would create an Office Of Community Economic Adjustment at the Commerce Department and establish and inter-agency group to coordinated federal aid to communities. Related bills, H.R. 2613 and H.R. 2810, also were introduced.
S. 1347, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Introduced: Aug. 2, 2001
Committee: Senate Governmental Affairs
Description: S. 1347 would create a Congressional Trade Office whose mission would be to provide lawmakers with independent, nonpartisan analysis of information about trade policies. Bill sponsor Max Baucus, D-Mont., said the measure is designed in part to curb the transfer of responsibility for trade policy from Congress to the executive branch. The bill would not specify an authorization amount for the office. It is similar to an earlier measure, S. 274, that Baucus introduced.
S. 1636, United States-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Introduced: Nov. 6, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 1636 would authorize the United States to negotiate a free trade agreement with Taiwan. The bill would require the president to specifically address e-commerce and intellectual property rights, among other things, in the trade deal.
S. 1861, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.
Introduced: Dec. 20, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S.1861 would extend normal trade relations to products imported from Russia. A House companion bill, H.R.3553, was introduced.
S. 2005, United States-Republic of the Philippines Free Trade Agreement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.
Introduced: March 11, 2002
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 2005 would grant the president limited trade-negotiating authority for discussions with the Philippines in an effort to ensure that trade barriers do not impede U.S.-Filipino commerce. The so-called fast-track authority gives Congress only a yes or no vote on trade pacts negotiated by the administration, with no chance to amend the deals. The bill would apply that authority just to talks with the Philippines.
S. 2062, Comprehensive Trade Negotiating Authority Act
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.
Introduced: March 21, 2002
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 2062 would provide trade-negotiating authority to the president and establish trade-negotiating objectives for the United States. The bill would instruct negotiators to ensure that U.S. trading partners commit to fulfill existing international trade obligations, pursue market-access initiatives that would benefit undeveloped nations, and promote the enforcement of strong labor, environmental and health and safety standards.
S. 2088
Sponsor: Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind.
Introduced: April 10, 2002
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 2088 would expand the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program for workers who lose their jobs because of trade deals. Under the bill, workers would be eligible for aid if they were employed in industries that the International Trade Commission deems as having been harmed by a greater influx of imported goods. It also would require the Labor Department to try to identify workers who might be eligible and create quicker processing times for assistance applications. Congress created TAA under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement to help squelch fears of job losses from the trade deal. Some workers use the aid to train for technology jobs.
S. 2737, Trade Adjustment Assistance Improvement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Introduced: July 17, 2002
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 2737 would expand a provision in the trade bill, H.R. 3009, that President Bush signed into law in August 2002. The bill would alter the Trade Adjustment Assistance program in an effort to improve aid and training for workers displaced by free-trade deals. The bill would expand the eligibility, training and healthcare benefits offered to such workers, who sometimes retrain for work in the technology sector.
S. 3089, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.
Introduced: Oct. 10, 2002
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. 3089 would extend normal trade relations to products imported from Ukraine. The measure would recognized Ukraine's efforts to open its markets to competition, move toward democracy and away from communism, and become more religiously tolerant, among other things.
S. Con. Res. 37, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.
Introduced: May 10, 2001
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. Con. Res. 37 would express the sense of Congress on the importance of promoting global e-commerce. The measure would call on the Bush administration to make international e-commerce a top priority, and to encourage members of the World Trade Organization to take steps to foster e-commerce and reject barriers that could hurt "digital trade." A House companion measure, H. Con. Res. 132, was introduced.

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