Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions
"Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions" is a new feature of International Trade Today. The following are brief summaries of Capitol Hill actions for March 30, 2009.
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GAO Issues Report on Commercial Trucking Security
The House Homeland Security Committee issued a press release announcing that the Government Accountability Office has issued a report requested by the Committee on the security of the U.S. commercial trucking sector. According to the press release, the report is entitled Commercial Vehicle Security: Risk-Based Approach Needed to Secure the Commercial Vehicle Sector, and demonstrates that while the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has taken steps in the right direction, more needs to be done to effectively assess risk and coordinate with federal, state, and industry stakeholders.
Senate Begins Consideration of FY 2010 Budget Resolution
On March 30, 2009, the Senate began consideration of S. Con. Res. 13, setting forth the congressional budget for the U.S. Government for fiscal year 2010, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2009, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2011 through 2014.
An amendment (No. 735) is pending to prohibit the use of reconciliation in the Senate for climate change legislation involving a cap and trade system.
House Report on Tobacco Product Bill Filed
A report for H.R. 1256, a bill to protect the public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products (H. Rept. 111-58, Pt. 1 and Pt. 2), has been filed in the House.
Trade-Related Bills Introduced on March 30, 2009
On March 30, 2009, the following trade-related bills were introduced:
| Drywall imports from China | S. 739. A bill to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to study drywall imported from China in 2004 through 2007, and for other purposes |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | H.R. 1790. A bill to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions resulting from land conversion and deforestation in developing countries, to provide incentives for developing countries to increase forest carbon stocks, and for other purposes |
| Money laundering | H.R. 1793. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to money laundering |
| Carbon monoxide detectors and CPSA | H.R. 1796. A bill to amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to require residential carbon monoxide detectors to meet the applicable ANSI/UL standard by treating that standard as a consumer product safety rule, to encourage States to require the installation of such detectors in homes, and for other purposes |
| Vehicle weight limitations | H.R. 1799. A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, with respect to vehicle weight limitations applicable to the Interstate System, and for other purposes |
If it is determined that any of the above Congressional actions, hearings, or bills warrant more in-depth coverage, such information will be provided separately in a future issue of International Trade Today.