November 23, 2008

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House

	H.R. 302, NAFTA-Impacted Community Relief Act *Sponsor: Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C. Introduced: Jan. 8, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means; Education and the Workforce Description*: H.R. 302 would provide tax incentives and job training grants to communities that have been affected by jobs and businesses moving to Canada or Mexico as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Labor secretary could issue grants of up to $1 million for job training in each state hurt by the trade deal. Some workers have used similar aid offered through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program to train for high-tech jobs.

	H.R. 1224, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. Introduced: March 12, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means; International Relations; Rules Description*: H.R. 1224 would establish permanent normal trade relations with Russia. The bill would repeal, as it pertains to Russia, the Jackson-Vanik amendment in the Trade Act, an addition made in 1974 that denied such status to communist countries that restricted emigration rights. The measure also would call for greater efforts by Russia to open its markets to foreign competitors, grant religious freedom, protect human rights and make democratic reforms, and it would provide for expedited congressional review of a resolution on Russia�s entrance into the World Trade Organization. A related Senate bill, S. 580, was introduced.

	H.R. 1494, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. C.L. (Butch) Otter, R-Idaho Introduced: March 27, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H.R. 1494 would allow the Commerce Department to impose duties of 80 percent on any imports of computer memory chips by the South Korean firm Hynix Semiconductor if the department determines that repeated South Korean subsidies to Hynix violate international law. The South Korean government and the banks it owns have been accused of providing more than $16 billion in financial assistance to Hynix, a move that critics argue has allowed Hynix to flood the chip market with cut-rate semiconductors that have contributed to more than $2 billion in losses for the Idaho district of the bill's sponsor, Republican C.L. (Butch) Otter. The district is home to Micron, a competitor to Hynix.

	H.R. 1769, Job Protection Act *Sponsor: Rep. Philip Crane, R-Ill. Introduced: April 11, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H.R. 1769 aims to resolve the dispute between the United States and European Union over a U.S. tax break for entities once known as �foreign sales corporations.� The World Trade Organization ruled that the policy, designed to bolster U.S. exports, is an illegal trade subsidy. The bill would replace the tax break for those entities with a rate reduction for domestic manufacturers in the United States.

	H.R. 1807, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Self-Employment Act *Sponsor: Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-N.Y. Introduced: April 11, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H.R 1807 would let qualified people use funds from the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program for self-employment training. Congress created TAA under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement to help squelch the fear of job losses from that trade deal. Some of the workers in the program retrain for technology jobs. The bill would allot $2,500 per eligible worker for two years of self-employment training in benefit allowances, training and other employment services.

	H.R. 2308, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Communities Act *Sponsor: Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich. Introduced: June 3, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H.R. 2308 would create a program within the Commerce Department with the goal of helping communities recover from the negative effects of U.S. trade agreements. Among other things, the chief of the program would provide comprehensive technical assistance to any eligible community and establish an interagency working group consisting of the representatives of any federal department or agency with responsibility for aid designed to counteract the impact of trade deals. Eligible communities would submit strategic plans for economic diversification, and the secretary would approve plans and grant money to help the chosen communities. The Trade Adjustment Assistance program helps people retrain for new jobs, and many of the recipients train for jobs in the high-tech sector. A Senate companion bill, S. 1110, was introduced. Export

	H.R. 2467, Middle East Trade and Engagement Act *Sponsor: Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash. Introduced: June 12, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H.R. 2467 would extend trade benefits to certain Middle Eastern countries. Eligible states would have to demonstrate progress toward several goals, including a dedication to intellectual property rights. In addition, participating countries could not boycott Israeli products or be listed by the State Department as state sponsors of terrorism, and they would have to support international efforts to combat terrorist activity. The list of eligible countries would include Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, among others.

	H.R. 2577, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas Introduced: June 24, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce Description*: H.R. 2577 would require the General Accounting Office to study how price controls by foreign governments on drugs affect U.S. prices and report back to Congress in one year and then every five years. The bill was introduced as controversy erupted over Americans buying drugs from Canada and other countries via online pharmacies. The measure also would examine how the U.S. trade representative could work to eliminate price controls.

	H.R. 2738, United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act *Sponsor: Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas Introduced: July 15, 2003 Committees: House Ways and Means; Judiciary Description*: H.R. 2738 would implement a trade agreement between the United States and Chile. The House passed the measure on a 270-156 vote on July 24, 2003; the Senate cleared it for the president�s signature by a vote of 66-31 a week later. A Senate companion bill, S. 1416, also was introduced.

	H.R. 2739, United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act *Sponsor: Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas Introduced: July 15, 2003 Committees: House Ways and Means; Judiciary Description*: H.R. 2739 would implement a trade agreement between the United States and Singapore. The House passed the measure on a 269-153 vote on July 24, 2003; the Senate cleared it to the president by a vote of 66-32 a week later. A Senate companion bill, S. 1417, also was introduced.

	H.R. 3228, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt. Introduced: Oct. 2, 2003 Committee: House Financial Services Description*: H.R. 3228 would halt normal trade relations with China and prevent that status in the future. Rep. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., said a primary reason he introduced the bill is because American companies like Motorola and IBM have eliminated jobs in the United States while working to create new ones in China.

	H.R. 3564, Economic Sovereignty and Job Security Act *Sponsor: Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Ohio Introduced: Nov. 20, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H.R. 3564 would remove the U.S. trade laws from the dispute-settlement process at the World Trade Organization. The measure would withhold funds from the WTO until the president certifies that the body will not sanction the United States for enforcing its laws on fair trade or enacting new ones.

	H.R. 3678, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Amo Houghton, R-N.Y. Introduced: Dec. 8, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H.R. 3678 would amend the tax code to expand the work-opportunity tax credit to people in the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. The tax credit currently applies to nine targeted groups of job seekers whose hiring can bring employers reductions in federal income taxes by as much as $2,400 per worker. The bill would add a category for TAA workers, who are eligible for retraining courses and other benefits when lose jobs as the result of trade deals. Some people in the TAA program get training for high-tech assignments.

	H. Con. Res. 98, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn. Introduced: March 18, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H. Con. Res. 98 would express Congress' support for a trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan. The resolution notes that Taiwan was admitted to the World Trade Organization in 2002, a move that reduced Taiwanese tariffs and started the process to open the nation's markets to foreign investments. The measure also notes that Taiwan is the world's largest producer of information technology hardware and ranks first in the production of computer notebooks, computers, monitors, motherboards and scanners.

	H. Con. Res. 124, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. Introduced: March 27, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H. Con. Res. 124 would express Congress� opinion that the United States should maintain a healthy trade relationship with South Korea despite tension over Korea's subsidization of Hynix Semiconductor, a firm based in that country that also competes in the United States. The resolution would urge the U.S. Commerce secretary to review the facts regarding Hynix's restructuring and avoid taking any action that might threaten American jobs or future investment in Hynix's facility in Oregon, the home state of Democrat Peter DeFazio, the measure�s sponsor. Oregon Republican Gordon Smith introduced a Senate companion resolution, S. Con. Res. 29.

	H. Con. Res. 224, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va. Introduced: June 19, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H. Con. Res. 224 would state Congress� opinion that the United States should withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement. Although the measure would not have the weight of law, it would offer congressional support to the proposed cancellation of the free-trade agreement, which is blamed for job losses and the nation's trade deficit with Mexico.

	H. Con. Res. 243, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich. Introduced: July 15, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H. Con. Res. 243 would urge the president to ensure that members of World Trade Organization tribunals who arbitrate disputes between WTO nations have adequate knowledge of certain areas.

	H.J. Res. 64, Untitled *Sponsor: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif. Introduced: July 9, 2003 Committee: House Ways and Means Description*: H.J. Res. 64 would deny �normal trade relations� to Vietnam. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., has offered the resolution for several years running.

Senate

	S. 492, Untitled *Sponsor: Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho Introduced: Feb. 27, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 492 would impose fees on the dynamic random-access memory semiconductors produced by the South Korean firm Hynix Semiconductor and imported into the United States. The firm has been accused of flooding the market for computer chips and thus hurting U.S. firms like Micron Technology, which is in the home state of bill sponsor Larry Craig, R-Idaho. Hynix also has been implicated in the illegal transfer of funds to North Korea in 2000. A related resolution, S. Con. Res. 11, also was introduced.

	S. 580, Untitled *Sponsor: Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind. Introduced: March 10, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 580 would establish permanent normal trade relations with Russia. The bill would repeal, as it pertains to Russia, the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment to the Trade Act. The language denies such trade status to communist countries that restrict emigration rights. Bill sponsor Richard Lugar, R-Ind., contends that Russia now supports free emigration, has signed a trade deal with the United States and should be given normal trade status. Related measures, S. 624 and H.R. 1224, were introduced.

	S. 624, U.S.-Russia Trade Act *Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. Introduced: March 13, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 624 would establish permanent normal trade relations with Russia. The bill would repeal, as it pertains to Russia, the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment to the Trade Act. The language denies such trade status to communist countries that restrict emigration rights. Bill sponsor Max Baucus, D-Mont., contends that Russia now supports free emigration, has signed a trade deal with the United States and should be given normal trade status. Related measures, S. 580 and H.R. 1224, were introduced.

	S. 627, Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act *Sponsor: Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. Introduced: March 13, 2003 Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Description*: S. 627 would prevent the use of certain payment instruments, credit cards, and fund transfers for unlawful Internet gambling.

	S. 676, World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Review Commission Act *Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. Introduced: March 20, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 676 would establish a commission of retired U.S. judges to review the dispute-settlement decisions of the World Trade Organization. Bill sponsor Max Baucus, D-Mont., expressed his concern over the growing number of WTO panels that have ruled against U.S. trade laws, and his bill seeks to combat those decisions. The five-member commission would review WTO decisions to determine whether the international body exceeded its authority or "acted arbitrarily or capriciously," among other things.

	S. 1110, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Communities Act *Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. Introduced: May 22, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 1110 would create a program within the Commerce Department with the goal of helping communities recover from the negative effects of U.S. trade agreements. Among other things, the chief of the program would provide comprehensive technical assistance to any eligible community and establish an interagency working group consisting of the representatives of any federal department or agency with responsibility for aid designed to counteract the impact of trade deals. Eligible communities would submit strategic plans for economic diversification, and the secretary would approve plans and grant money to help the chosen communities. The Trade Adjustment Assistance program helps people retrain for new jobs, and many of the recipients train for jobs in the high-tech sector. A House companion bill, H.R. 2308, was introduced.

	S. 1120, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms Reorganization Act *Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. Introduced: May 22, 2003 Committee: House Finance Description*: S. 1120 would create a new advisory job within the Commerce Department related to counteracting the negative impact of trade deals. The bill would create an Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance within the International Trade Administration. The Trade Adjustment Assistance program helps people retrain for new jobs, and many of the recipients train for jobs in the high-tech sector.

	S. 1121, Middle East Trade and Engagement Act *Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. Introduced: May 22, 2003 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 1121 would give certain Middle Eastern countries preferential access to the U.S. market. To be eligible, the countries would have to support the U.S.-led war on terrorism and pursue economic reforms, such as strengthening protections for intellectual property. The president would what countries qualify. The bill lists 18 countries for consideration, including Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Yemen.

	S. 1258, Stand With American Workers Act *Sponsor: Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind. Introduced: June 12, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 1258 aims to protect U.S. industries by correcting a perceived bias on the part of the World Trade Organization against the United States. The measure would make U.S. trade laws more severe and create an independent panel to review WTO decisions for anti-U.S. prejudice.

	S. 1299, Trade Readjustment and Development Enhancement for America's Communities Act *Sponsor: Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine Introduced: June 19, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 1299 seeks to help communities negatively affected by trade by providing technical and economic assistance toward developing plans for strategic economic growth. The measure would authorize the Commerce Department to identify communities that qualify for assistance. Some of the people who are hurt by trade deals later train for jobs in the technology industry.

	S. 1416, United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act *Sponsor: Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa Introduced: July 15, 2003 Committees: Senate Finance; Judiciary Description*: S. 1416 would implement a trade agreement between the United States and Chile. Congress cleared the House companion measure, H.R. 2738.

	S. 1417, United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act *Sponsor: Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa Introduced: July 15, 2003 Committees: Senate Finance; Judiciary Description*: S. 1417 would implement a trade agreement between the United States and Singapore. Congress cleared the House companion measure, H.R. 2739.

	S. 1480, Buy American Improvement Act *Sponsor: Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis. Introduced: July 29, 2003 Committee: Senate Governmental Affairs Description*: S. 1480 would amend a 1933 law that requires the U.S. government to purchase goods and services from domestic sources, or to "buy American." The bill would increase from 50 percent to 75 percent the standard for determining when a product is made primarily from domestic content. It also would restrict the ability of federal agencies to make agreements with foreign entities if the deals would give the foreign partners access to information that could help them make "dual-use technologies," or those with both civilian and military applications.

	S. 1557, Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Armenia Act *Sponsor: Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Introduced: Aug. 1, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 1557 would grant permanent, normal trade relations to Armenia and eliminate the current need for presidential reauthorization of trade with the country twice a year. A 1974 law conditions trade with former Soviet states upon improvements in various policies in those countries, including human rights and emigration, with those policies reviewed periodically to confirm compliance. The bill would allow Armenia to export its products to the United States under a permanent scheme. The country joined the World Trade Organization in 2003, and U.S.-Armenia trade for 2002 totaled more than $134.2 million, according to the bill.

	S. 1911, Untitled *Sponsor: Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah Introduced: Nov. 20, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. 1911 would force countries that receive special access to the U.S. market to make their intellectual property laws stronger than current international standards in order to reflect new technologies such as the Internet. The legislation would raise the standard for protecting intellectual property rights in various programs under which the United States offers lower or no tariffs for certain products entering the United States from least-developed and developing countries. The proposal would affect: the Generalized System of Preferences, which involves imports from about 40 least-developed nations, mostly in Africa; the Andean Trade Preference Act, and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act.

	S. 2002, United States-Cuba Trademark Protection Act *Sponsor: Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. Introduced: Dec. 9, 2003 Committee: Senate Judiciary Description*: S. 2002 attempts to improve and promote Cuba�s compliance with international intellectual property obligations. Under the bill, the secretary of State would have to contact Cuban officials to get assurances that they will comply with intellectual property standards in various treaties. The secretary also would have to ensure that Cuba intends to comply with the dispute-resolution policy established by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers for Internet addresses from Cuba. And the director of the Patent and Trademark Office would have to establish registries for trademarks owned by U.S. citizens and registered in or submitted for registration in Cuba. The registries would have to be available online, and the trademark process would have to be accessible electronically.

	S. Con. Res. 11, Untitled *Sponsor: Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho Introduced: Feb. 27, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. Con. Res. 11 would express Congress� opinion that South Korea has violated trade commitments by supplying financial aid to Hynix Semiconductor. The firm has been accused of flooding the market for computer chips and thus hurting U.S. firms like Micron Technology, which is in the home state of bill sponsor Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. The resolution also calls on South Korea to cease its bailout of the firm and for the U.S. Commerce Department and president to take action to stop the bailout. A related bill, S. 492, also was introduced.

	S. Con. Res. 29, Untitled *Sponsor: Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore. Introduced: March 25, 2003 Committee: Senate Finance Description*: S. Con Res. 29 would express Congress� opinion that the United States should maintain a healthy trade relationship with South Korea despite tension over Korea's subsidization of Hynix Semiconductor, a firm based in that country that also competes in the United States. The resolution would urge the U.S. Commerce secretary to review the facts regarding Hynix's restructuring and avoid taking any action that might threaten American jobs or future investment in Hynix's facility in Oregon, the home state of Republican Gordon Smith, the measure�s sponsor. Oregon Democrat Peter DeFazio introduced a companion House resolution, H. Con. Res. 124.

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