Congressional advisers for trade policy and negotiations

(a)

Selection

Section 161 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2211) is amended in subsection (a)— (1)in paragraph (1) by striking the first sentence and inserting the following: The following members of Congress shall be selected and designated as congressional advisers on trade policy and negotiations: From the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the chairman and ranking minority member of the full committee, and the chairman and ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on Trade; from the Committee on Finance of the Senate, the chairman and ranking minority member of the full committee, and the chairman and ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on Trade.; and (2)in paragraph (2) by adding at the end the following:

(D)Of the total number of members from a House of Congress selected as congressional advisers under this paragraph, not more than half may be of the same political party.

(b)

Expansion of role

Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Recommendations by congressional advisers on trade agreement effects

Each congressional adviser under subsection (a) shall, on an annual basis and at any other time the congressional adviser considers appropriate, transmit written recommendations to the covered executive branch officials on trade agreement effects. Each official to which recommendations are transmitted shall give due regard to the recommendations. (e)

Appointments to trade advisory committees

(1)

Number

Every trade advisory committee, whether established before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this subsection, shall have a number of members the total of which is evenly divisible by three. (2)

Appointment

For purposes of appointing the members of a trade advisory committee, the congressional advisers under subsection (a) shall be grouped by party affiliation. The group with the greatest number of advisers shall appoint one-third of the members; the group with the next-greatest number of advisers shall appoint one-third of the members; and the President (or the President’s designee) shall appoint the remaining members. (3)

Consultation

The congressional advisers are encouraged to consult with other committees of Congress, including but not limited to committees with jurisdiction over health, environmental, labor, and consumer issues, in making such appointments. (4)

Interests represented

The officials responsible for appointing the members of a trade advisory committee shall ensure that each trade advisory committee includes— (A)at least 1 member from labor organizations; (B)at least 1 member from consumer interest organizations; and (C)at least 1 member from public health organizations. (5)

Terms

Each member of a trade advisory committee shall serve a term of 2 years. (6)

Other provisions superseded

This subsection supersedes any other provision of law to the extent that provision is inconsistent with this subsection, whether enacted before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this subsection. (f)

Reports to Congress by trade advisory committees

Before the President submits trade agreement legislation to Congress, each trade advisory committee that has advised with respect to that legislation shall submit to the congressional advisers under subsection (a) a report on the legislation. The report shall include an examination of the trade agreement effects of the legislation. (g)

Reports to Congress by executive branch officials

Each covered executive branch official shall, on an annual basis, submit to Congress a report on the trade advisory process. The report shall identify the concerns raised by members of trade advisory committees on the effectiveness of the process and explain the steps taken by that official to address those concerns. (h)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Covered executive branch official

The term covered executive branch official applies to the following: (A)The United States Trade Representative. (B)The Secretary of Labor. (C)The Secretary of Agriculture. (D)The Secretary of Commerce. (E)The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (2)

Trade advisory committee

The term trade advisory committee includes any advisory committee with respect to United States trade policy, and specifically includes any committee established under section 135. (3)

Trade agreement effects

The term trade agreement effects— (A)means the effects on the United States and its trading partners of international trade agreements; and (B)includes effects in areas including but not limited to public health, the environment, worker rights, and consumer rights.