New Trade-Related Bills as of April 23

April 30, 2013 by Jessica Arriens|Congress

Recent trade-related legislation introduced in the House and Senate:

HR-1682, the Fostering Rights through Economic Engagement in Vietnam Act; introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., April 23. The bill, which has a group of five bipartisan cosponsors, bars Vietnam from Generalized System of Preferences program until the country curbs human rights abuses. The bill requires the President to sign a declaration that Vietnam is not on the special watch list under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and ensure the government does not engage in “pervasive violations of internationally-recognized human rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion,” before qualifying for GSP. Linking trade preferences to improving human rights “gives us a tool to send a strong message to the Vietnamese government that continued human rights violations will not be tolerated,” said Lofgren in a statement (here). Read the complete bill (here).
HR-1687, the Countering ALBA Act; introduced by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and Rep. Albio Sires, D-N.J., April 23. The bill urges the President to sanction members of ALBA governments -- a coalition of Latin American and Caribbean countries founded by former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- which are responsible for human rights violations. The sanctions could include blocking property and financial transactions. Read a statement from the bill’s sponsors (here).
HR-1771, to improve the enforcement of sanctions against North Korea, and for other purposes; introduced by Rep. Edward Royce, R-Calif., April 26.
HR-1777, to increase exports to Africa by at least 200 percent in real dollar value within 10 years; introduced by Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., April 26.
HR-1817, requires certain Federal agencies to use U.S. produced iron and steel produced in construction projects for public buildings or public works; introduced by Rep. Peter Visclosky, D-Ind., April 26.
HR-1891, amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada; introduced by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, April 26. The Senate version, S-847, was introduced by Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.
S-823, authorizes $500 million for fiscal year 2014 to provide grants to States for surface transportation projects of national and regional significance; introduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., April 25. The program was authorized as part of last year’s federal transportation funding bill, but will expire at the end of FY 2013, Whitehouse said in a statement (here).