[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5940-S5941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KYL:
  S. 1846. A bill to permit duty free treatment for certain articles 
provided by the Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy and the Arcetri 
Astrophysical Observatory; to the Committee on Finance.


                      TARIFF EXEMPTION LEGISLATION

 Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I introduce legislation today to 
permit duty-free treatment for certain structures, parts, and 
components provided by the Max Planck Institute to University of 
Arizona's submillimeter telescope and provided by the Arcetri 
Astrophysical Observatory for the University of Arizona's large 
binocular telescope [LBT]. This legislation will help ensure the 
continued progress of astronomy in the United States and in Arizona.
  To advance the potential of submillimeter astronomy, the Steward 
Observatory of the University of Arizona and the Max Planck Institute 
in Germany are collaborating on the construction and operation of a 
dedicated submillimeter telescope in Arizona. The University of Arizona 
has unique capabilities in large glass optics, instrumentation, and 
mountaintop sites; the Max Planck Institute in development of large, 
precise radio astronomy telescopes.
  The SMT is the highest accuracy radio telescope ever built. And the 
SMT project has fostered an effective collaboration between an American 
University, a German national research laboratory and high-technology 
industries in both Germany and America.
  The Tariff and Trade Act of 1984 provided a waiver of tariffs for 
equipment and materials provided by the Max Planck Institute. An 
extension of the waiver is necessary to further develop custom 
instrumentation not available from any U.S. producer. An extension of 
the waiver is also necessary to allow the calibration and repair of the 
equipment required by the project.
  In addition, the University of Arizona has collaborated with Arcetri 
Astrophysical Observatory in Florence, Italy, to build the large 
binocular telescope. The scientific goals of the LBT include studies of 
the early universe and the formation of galaxies more than 10 billion 
years ago. The very high sensitivity and spatial resolution for the LBT 
will make it the most powerful instrument in the world for this kind of 
astronomical research.
  This legislation will also provide duty-free treatment for components

[[Page S5941]]

that cannot be obtained in the United States for construction of the 
University of Arizona's large binocular telescope.
  At a time when Federal budget constraints have made belt-tightening 
necessary, these tariff exemptions are important to the continued 
success of scientific research.
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