[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 103 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7816-S7825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. LAUTENBERG:
  S. 1950. A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to 
improve the quality of coastal recreation waters, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.


   THE BEACHES ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT, CLOSURE AND HEALTH ACT OF 1996

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Beaches 
Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health [BEACH] Act of 1996.
  Mr. President, coastal tourism generates billions of dollars every 
year for local communities nationwide. Moreover, our coastal areas 
provide immeasurable benefits for millions of Americans who want to 
build sand castles, cool off in the water, take a walk with that 
special someone, or just relax. New Jersey's tourism sector is the 
second largest revenue-producing industry in the State. Without a 
doubt, the lure of my State's beaches generates most of this revenue--
over $7 billion annually.
  Mr. President, alarmingly, this heavily used natural resource can 
actually pose a threat to human health if it is not properly managed. 
Studies conducted during the past two decades show a definite 
relationship between the amount of indicator bacteria in coastal waters 
and the incidence of swimming-associated illnesses.
  Viruses are believed to be the major cause of swimming-associated 
diseases--gastroenteritis and hepatitis are the most common ones 
worldwide. And because an individual afflicted with these diseases is 
contagious to others in his or her household, the risk of sewage-borne 
illness does not end with the bather. Additional diseases that can be 
contracted by swimmers include an infection caused by the toxigenic 
bacteria E. coli--the bacteria found in Jack-in-the-Box hamburgers 
which caused an outbreak of illnesses a few years ago.
  Yet many current, EPA approved techniques to measure marine water 
quality appear to underestimate the true number of viable pathogens 
that are entering the marine environment. Existing EPA guidelines allow 
States to decide whether their beach waters are safe for swimming based 
on monthly averages. Waters may appear safe in the long term, but 
short-term violations of the public health standard go unrecognized.

[[Page S7817]]

  The existing EPA guidelines are not useful for decisionmakers, who 
need to decide whether they should allow people to swim at the beach 
tomorrow or during the coming weekend. Using monthly water quality 
averages to determine if the beach is safe for swimming is like taking 
a patient's temperature average over a week to see if the patient is 
sick. The patient's average temperature could be just about normal. But 
in the meantime, the patient could die. EPA must develop new standards 
because existing EPA guidelines simply fall short.
  While some States use these inadequate EPA guidelines, others have no 
programs for regularly monitoring their beachwater for swimmer safety. 
In a report released today, Testing the Waters: Who Knows What You're 
Getting Into, the Natural Resources Defense Council [NRDC] found that 
only five States--New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, and 
Indiana--comprehensively monitor their beaches, and a mere five States 
consistently close beaches every time bacteria water quality standards 
are violated. Additionally, NRDC found that a high-bacteria level can 
cause a beach closure in one State while in another State people may be 
allowed to swim in the water despite equal health risks. This 
discrepancy among coastal States threatens public health.
  The NRDC report also found that high levels of bacteria in coastal 
waters--primarily from raw human sewage--are responsible for the 
overwhelming majority of beach closures and advisories in the United 
States. In 1995, U.S. ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches were closed, 
or advisories were issued against swimming, on more than 3,522 
occasions.
  New Jersey has been aggressive when it comes to protecting public 
health at the beach. New Jersey is the only State to have a mandatory 
beach protection program that includes a bacteria standard, a 
monitoring program, and mandatory beach closure requirements when the 
bacteria standard is exceeded. The program is designed to address water 
quality from both a health and an environmental perspective. Beaches 
are closed when bacteria levels exceed the standard regardless of the 
pollution source.
  Ironically, New Jersey suffers because it does more to protect public 
health. In some years, annual losses from beach closures in New Jersey 
have ranged from $800 million to $1 billion.
  The bill that I am introducing today will address the uneven coastal 
commitment to protect beach goers by establishing uniform testing and 
monitoring procedures for pathogens and floatables in marine recreation 
waters. This bill also requires EPA to establish a nationwide public 
health standard for determining when States should notify the public of 
health risks due to pathogen contaminated waters.
  This bill requires the EPA to establish procedures to monitor coastal 
waters to detect short-term increases in pathogenicity and to set 
minimum standards to protect the public from pathogen contaminated 
beach waters. And it will assure that the public is notified when beach 
waters exceed the standards and public health may be at risk.
  Whether they're in the Carolinas or in California, in New Jersey or 
New York, people across the country have a right to know when the water 
is and is not safe to swim in. Beach goers should be able to wade or 
swim in the surf without the fear of getting sick. Going to the beach 
should be a healthy and rejuvenating experience. A day at the beach 
shouldn't be followed by a day at the doctor.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
importance of protecting public health at our Nation's beaches by 
cosponsoring this legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1950

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Beaches Environmental 
     Assessment, Closure, and Health Act of 1996''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Nation's beaches are a valuable public resource 
     used for recreation by millions of people annually;
       (2) the beaches of coastal States are hosts to many out-of-
     State and international visitors;
       (3) tourism in the coastal zone generates billions of 
     dollars annually;
       (4) increased population has contributed to the decline in 
     the environmental quality of coastal waters;
       (5) pollution in coastal waters is not restricted by State 
     and other political boundaries;
       (6) each coastal State has its own method of testing the 
     quality of its coastal recreation waters, providing varying 
     degrees of protection to the public; and
       (7) the adoption of standards by coastal States for 
     monitoring the quality of coastal recreation waters, and the 
     posting of signs at beaches notifying the public during 
     periods when the standards are exceeded, would enhance public 
     health and safety.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to require uniform 
     procedures for beach testing and monitoring to protect public 
     safety and improve the environmental quality of coastal 
     recreation waters.

     SEC. 3. WATER QUALITY CRITERIA AND STANDARDS.

       (a) Issuance of Criteria.--Section 304(a) of the Federal 
     Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1314(a)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) Coastal recreation waters.--(A) The Administrator, 
     after consultation with appropriate Federal and State 
     agencies and other interested persons, shall issue within 18 
     months after the effective date of this paragraph (and review 
     and revise from time to time thereafter, but in no event less 
     than once every 5 years) water quality criteria for pathogens 
     in coastal recreation waters. Such criteria shall--
       ``(i) be based on the best available scientific 
     information;
       ``(ii) be sufficient to protect public health and safety in 
     case of any reasonably anticipated exposure to pollutants as 
     a result of swimming, bathing, or other body contact 
     activities; and
       ``(iii) include specific numeric criteria calculated to 
     reflect public health risks from short-term increases in 
     pathogens in coastal recreation waters resulting from 
     rainfall, malfunctions of wastewater treatment works, and 
     other causes.
       ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `coastal 
     recreation waters' means Great Lakes and marine coastal 
     waters commonly used by the public for swimming, bathing, or 
     other similar primary contact purposes.''.
       (b) Standards.--
       (1) Adoption by states.--A State shall adopt water quality 
     standards for coastal recreation waters which, at a minimum, 
     are consistent with the criteria published by the 
     Administrator under section 304(a)(9) of the Federal Water 
     Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1314(a)(9)), as amended by 
     this Act, not later than 3 years following the date of such 
     publication. Such water quality standards shall be developed 
     in accordance with the requirements of section 303(c) of the 
     Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1313(c)). A 
     State shall incorporate such standards into all appropriate 
     programs into which such State would incorporate other water 
     quality standards adopted under section 303(c) of the Federal 
     Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1313(c)).
       (2) Failure of states to adopt.--If a State has not 
     complied with paragraph (1) by the last day of the 3-year 
     period beginning on the date of publication of criteria under 
     section 304(a)(9) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
     (33 U.S.C. 1314(a)(9)), as amended by this Act, the water 
     quality criteria issued by the Administrator under such 
     section shall become applicable as the water quality 
     standards for coastal recreational waters for the State. The 
     State shall use the standards issued by the Administrator in 
     implementing all programs for which water quality standards 
     for coastal recreation waters are used.

     SEC. 4. COASTAL BEACH WATER QUALITY MONITORING.

       Title IV of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1341-1345) is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 406. COASTAL BEACH WATER QUALITY MONITORING.

       ``(a) Monitoring.--Not later than 9 months after the date 
     on which the Administrator publishes revised water quality 
     criteria for coastal recreation waters under section 
     304(a)(9), the Administrator shall publish regulations 
     specifying methods to be used by States to monitor coastal 
     recreation waters, during periods of use by the public, for 
     compliance with applicable water quality standards for those 
     waters and protection of the public safety. Monitoring 
     requirements established pursuant to this subsection shall, 
     at a minimum--
       ``(1) specify the frequency of monitoring based on the 
     periods of recreational use of such waters;
       ``(2) specify the frequency of monitoring based on the 
     extent and degree of use during such periods;
       ``(3) specify the frequency of monitoring based on the 
     proximity of coastal recreation waters to pollution sources;

[[Page S7818]]

       ``(4) specify methods for detecting levels of pathogens and 
     for identifying short-term increases in pathogens in coastal 
     recreation waters; and
       ``(5) specify the conditions and procedures under which 
     discrete areas of coastal recreation waters may be exempted 
     by the Administrator from the monitoring requirements of this 
     subsection, if the Administrator determines that an exemption 
     will not impair--
       ``(A) compliance with the applicable water quality 
     standards for those waters; and
       ``(B) protection of the public safety.
       ``(b) Notification Requirements.--Regulations published 
     pursuant to subsection (a) shall require States to notify 
     local governments and the public of violations of applicable 
     water quality standards for State coastal recreation waters. 
     Notification pursuant to this subsection shall include, at a 
     minimum--
       ``(1) prompt communication of the occurrence, nature, and 
     extent of such a violation, to a designated official of a 
     local government having jurisdiction over land adjoining the 
     coastal recreation waters for which a violation is 
     identified; and
       ``(2) posting of signs, for the period during which the 
     violation continues, sufficient to give notice to the public 
     of a violation of an applicable water quality standard for 
     such waters and the potential risks associated with body 
     contact recreation in such waters.
       ``(c) Floatable Materials Monitoring Procedures.--The 
     Administrator shall--
       ``(1) issue guidance on uniform assessment and monitoring 
     procedures for floatable materials in coastal recreation 
     waters; and
       ``(2) specify the conditions under which the presence of 
     floatable material shall constitute a threat to public health 
     and safety.
       ``(d) Delegation of Responsibility.--A State may delegate 
     responsibility for monitoring and posting of coastal 
     recreation waters pursuant to this section to local 
     government authorities.
       ``(e) Review and Revision of Regulations.--The 
     Administrator shall review and revise regulations published 
     pursuant to this section periodically, but in no event less 
     than once every 5 years.
       ``(f) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, the 
     following definitions apply:
       ``(1) Coastal recreation waters.--The term `coastal 
     recreation waters' means Great Lakes and marine coastal 
     waters commonly used by the public for swimming, bathing, or 
     other similar body contact purposes.
       ``(2) Floatable materials.--The term `floatable materials' 
     means any matter that may float or remain suspended in the 
     water column and includes plastic, aluminum cans, wood, 
     bottles, and paper products.''.

     SEC. 5. STUDIES TO IDENTIFY INDICATORS OF HUMAN-SPECIFIC 
                   PATHOGENS IN COASTAL RECREATION WATERS.

       (a) Studies.--The Administrator, in cooperation with the 
     Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall 
     conduct studies to provide additional information to the 
     current base of knowledge for use for developing better 
     indicators for directly detecting in coastal recreation 
     waters the presence of bacteria and viruses which are harmful 
     to human health.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the 
     Administrator shall submit to the Congress a report 
     describing the findings of the studies under this section, 
     including--
       (1) recommendations concerning the need for additional 
     numerical limits or conditions and other actions needed to 
     improve the quality of coastal recreation waters;
       (2) a description of the amounts and types of floatable 
     materials in coastal waters and on coastal beaches and of 
     recent trends in the amounts and types of such floatable 
     materials; and
       (3) an evaluation of State efforts to implement this Act, 
     including the amendments made by this Act.

     SEC. 6. GRANTS TO STATES.

       (a) Grants.--The Administrator may make grants to States 
     for use in fulfilling requirements established pursuant to 
     section 3 and 4.
       (b) Cost Sharing.--The total amount of grants to a State 
     under this section for a fiscal year shall not exceed 50 
     percent of the cost to the State of implementing requirements 
     established pursuant to section 3 and 4.

     SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act, the following definitions apply:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
       (2) Coastal recreation waters.--The term ``coastal 
     recreation waters'' means Great Lakes and marine coastal 
     waters commonly used by the public for swimming, bathing, or 
     other similar body contact purposes.
       (3) Floatable materials.--The term ``floatable materials'' 
     means any matter that may float or remain suspended in the 
     water column and includes plastic, aluminum cans, wood, 
     bottles, and paper products.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Administrator--
       (1) for use in making grants to States under section 6 not 
     more than $4,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1997 and 
     1998; and
       (2) for carrying out the other provisions of this Act not 
     more than $1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1997 and 
     1998.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. FORD (for himself, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Helms, Mr. Warner, 
        Mr. Byrd, Mr. Heflin, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Shelby and Mr. Cohen):

  S. 1951. A bill to ensure the competitiveness of the United States 
textile and apparel industry; to the Committee on Finance.


         THE CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AND MARKET ACCESS ACT OF 1996

  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation that is 
badly needed by the American textile and apparel industry and its 
workers. It complements an effort in the other body spearheaded by John 
Spratt of South Carolina and supported by over 100 Members of the 
House. My legislation is aimed at opening markets around the world and 
at enforcing the rules of the road that govern trade in textile goods. 
Broadly speaking, it will do so in four ways.
  First, by extending the same authority that now exists for enforcing 
intellectual property rights to opening markets for U.S. textile and 
apparel products. Second, by supporting U.S. textile and apparel 
producers in their ongoing efforts to modernize and become more 
internationally competitive. Third, by strengthening U.S. laws against 
illegal trading practices like piracy, undervaluation, and 
transshipment in the textile and apparel area. And lastly, by beefing 
up the ability of the U.S. Government to enforce its trade laws and 
trade agreements.
  Mr. President, 2 years ago, Congress passed the GATT implementing 
bill which will end all limits on textile imports by the year 2005. Our 
textile and apparel industry, which argued for a longer phase-out 
period, very reluctantly accepted this outcome.
  The industry accepted this outcome because it had already made a 
commitment to compete in the global economy. Our textile and apparel 
industry has invested billions of dollars in becoming more 
competitive--about $12 billion just since the GATT implementing bill 
was passed.
  They've supported the aggressive efforts of the President and USTR to 
open markets to American products. And our industry has committed to 
exporting.
  But what happens when American textile and apparel producers go to 
foreign markets to sell their products? Too often, they find a closed 
door. Worse still, those same countries that ship the most to the 
United States are often the ones whose markets are closed to U.S. 
products. China, for example, which is our No. 1 source of textile and 
apparel imports, shipped $6.6 billion worth of textile and apparel 
goods in 1995, but allowed the sale of only $63 million of United 
States goods. Likewise, our textile and apparel exports to India and 
Pakistan were just $19 million last year, while those two countries 
sent us $2.8 billion worth of textile goods.
  Clearly, we can't tell our industry to sell its products overseas if 
overseas markets are closed to American goods. My bill will help by 
requiring that textile agreements include specific market access 
commitments and by providing for a regular evaluation of the market 
access given to U.S. products.
  Mr. President, nearly 1.5 million Americans are employed directly in 
the textile and apparel industries, about 40,000 of them in my State of 
Kentucky. American textile and apparel workers are among the most 
productive in the world and make some of the finest goods anywhere. 
Unfortunately, during 1995, 150,000 of those workers lost their jobs, 
due in large part to surging levels of textile imports. Most of these 
workers live in rural areas where jobs, particularly good jobs, are not 
always easy to come by. For those workers, when the local textile mill 
or apparel facility closes, there simply aren't other jobs.
  Now, it's bad enough that many of those imports and lost jobs are due 
to trade agreements that we should not have passed, like the NAFTA. But 
what's much worse is the fact that thousands upon thousands of jobs are 
lost because of illegal textile imports. This bill will give the 
Customs Service badly needed tools to fight against textile and apparel 
transshipments and counterfeit textile goods. And, it will raise the 
penalty for those who break our laws in textile trade.
  Mr. President, I want to thank those Senators who have agreed to join 
me in

[[Page S7819]]

introducing this important legislation. I am particularly pleased that 
we have been able to work on this in a bipartisan fashion, as we have 
so many times in the past on the issues that affect our textile and 
apparel workers.
  This bill is not about protectionism. It's not about special favors 
for a particular industry. It's about basic fairness in how we trade 
with other nations. It's about enforcing our trade laws and standing up 
for American textile and apparel workers.
  Mr. President, my bill's message is a simple one: Our textile and 
apparel industry and its workers are ready to compete. We should pass 
the Customs Enforcement and Market Access Act this year to make sure 
they can compete, both here in the United States and in markets around 
the world.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that my bill be printed in the 
Record at this time, along with the cosponsorship of Mr. Hollings, Mr. 
Helms, Mr. Warner, Mr. Heflin, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Cohen, and 
Mr. Byrd, and that it be referred to the appropriate committee.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Record 
remain open until the close of business today so that other Senators 
may add their names to the bill as original cosponsors.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1951

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Customs Enforcement and 
     Market Access Act of 1996''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (1) the textile and apparel industry is a key part of the 
     United States manufacturing base and the third largest 
     manufacturing sector in the United States economy;
       (2) textile and apparel facilities are often located in 
     economically sensitive regions;
       (3) the industry has demonstrated an ability to compete in 
     the global economy where market access is available;
       (4) the domestic textile and apparel industry has committed 
     significant resources to be competitive and productive;
       (5) workers in the industry make the highest quality 
     textile and apparel goods in the world and are the world's 
     most productive;
       (6) the industry is preparing to compete in the world 
     market without the protection of import quotas authorized by 
     the Multifiber Arrangement; and
       (7) United States trade policy should be oriented toward 
     expanding exports and ensuring that United States trade laws 
     are vigorously enforced.
       (8) The Committee for the Implementation of Textile 
     Agreements, the Office of Textiles, Apparel, and Consumer 
     Goods of the Department of Commerce, and the Ambassador for 
     Textiles and Apparel in the Office of the United States Trade 
     Representative--
       (A) play central and indispensable roles in administering 
     the laws governing trade in textile and apparel goods;
       (B) have diligently carried out laws enacted by the 
     Congress and under powers delegated to them by the President; 
     and
       (C) have acted in accordance with United States and 
     international law.

     SEC. 3. MARKET ACCESS FOR UNITED STATES TEXTILE AND APPAREL 
                   PRODUCTS.

       (a) Accession Protocols.--In any case in which the United 
     States negotiates a protocol for accession of a country to 
     the World Trade Organization, the Trade Representative shall 
     negotiate for inclusion in that protocol, in addition to any 
     other provisions, the following:
       (1) Provisions for effective market access to that 
     country's domestic markets for textile and apparel products 
     of the United States.
       (2) Provisions allowing the suspension or revocation of the 
     provisions of paragraph 14 (relating to increasing import 
     levels based on growth rates) of the Agreement on Textiles 
     and Clothing if the United States determines that the country 
     has failed to enforce the provisions referred to in paragraph 
     (1).
       (b) Bilateral Agreements With Countries That Are Not WTO 
     Members.--In any case in which the United States negotiates a 
     textile agreement with a country that is not a WTO member, 
     including any agreement negotiated pursuant to section 5 of 
     this Act, the Trade Representative shall negotiate for 
     inclusion in that textile agreement, in addition to any other 
     provisions, the following:
       (1) Provisions for effective market access to that 
     country's domestic markets for textile and apparel products 
     of the United States.
       (2) Provisions that recognize the right of the United 
     States to pursue remedies under United States law, including 
     section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, to respond to the 
     denial of market access described in paragraph (1).
       (c) Review of Textile Agreements.--The Trade Representative 
     shall take into account the compliance of countries with the 
     provisions negotiated under subsections (a) and (b) in 
     identifying countries for purposes of section 183 of the 
     Trade Act of 1974, as added by subsection (d) of this 
     section.
       (d) Priority Foreign Countries.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 8 of title I of the Trade Act of 
     1974 (19 U.S.C. 2241 and following) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 183. IDENTIFICATION OF COUNTRIES THAT DENY MARKET 
                   ACCESS FOR TEXTILE AND APPAREL PRODUCTS.

       ``(a) In General.--By no later than the date that is 30 
     days after the date on which the annual report is submitted 
     to congressional committees under section 181(b), the United 
     States Trade Representative (hereafter referred to as the 
     `Trade Representative') shall identify--
       ``(1) those foreign countries that deny fair and equitable 
     market access to United States persons that produce or sell 
     textile or apparel products, and
       ``(2) those foreign countries identified under paragraph 
     (1) that are determined by the Trade Representative to be 
     priority foreign countries.
       ``(b) Special Rules for Identifications.--In identifying 
     priority foreign countries under subsection (a), the 
     following shall apply:
       ``(1) In identifying priority foreign countries under 
     subsection (a)(2), the Trade Representative shall identify 
     only those foreign countries--
       ``(A) that have the most onerous or egregious acts, 
     policies, or practices that deny fair and equitable market 
     access to United States persons that sell or produce textile 
     or apparel products,
       ``(B) whose acts, policies, or practices described in 
     subparagraph (A) have the greatest adverse impact (actual or 
     potential) on the relevant United States products, and
       ``(C) that are not--
       ``(i) entering into good faith negotiations, or
       ``(ii) making significant progress in bilateral or 
     multilateral negotiations,

     to provide adequate and effective market access for textile 
     and apparel products of the United States.
       ``(2) In identifying foreign countries under subsection 
     (a)(2), the Trade Representative shall--
       ``(A) consult with the Chair of the Committee for the 
     Implementation of Textile Agreements and other appropriate 
     officers of the Federal Government, and
       ``(B) take into account information from such sources as 
     may be available to the Trade Representative and such 
     information as may be submitted to the Trade Representative 
     in reports submitted under section 181(b) and petitions 
     submitted under section 302.
       ``(3) The Trade Representative may identify a foreign 
     country under subsection (a)(1) only if the Trade 
     Representative finds that there is a factual basis for the 
     denial of fair and equitable market access as a result of the 
     violation of international law or an international agreement, 
     or the existence of barriers referred to in subsection 
     (d)(1).
       ``(4) In identifying foreign countries under paragraphs (1) 
     and (2) of subsection (a), the Trade Representative shall 
     take into account--
       ``(A) the history of market access laws and practices of 
     the foreign country, including any previous identification 
     under subsection (a)(2); and
       ``(B) the history of efforts of the United States, and the 
     response of the foreign country, to achieve fair and 
     equitable market access for textile and apparel products.
       ``(c) Revocations and Additional Identifications.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Trade Representative may at any 
     time--
       ``(A) revoke the identification of any foreign country as a 
     priority foreign country under this section, or
       ``(B) identify a foreign country as a priority foreign 
     country under this section,
     if information available to the Trade Representative 
     indicates that such action is appropriate.
       ``(2) Reports to congress.--The Trade Representative shall 
     include in the semiannual report submitted to the Congress 
     under section 309(3) a detailed explanation of the 
     identification of any foreign country as a priority foreign 
     country under this section.
       ``(d) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section--
       ``(1) a foreign country denies fair and equitable market 
     access if the foreign country effectively denies access for 
     textile or apparel products of the United States through the 
     use of laws, procedures, practices, or regulations which--
       ``(A) violate provisions of international law or 
     international agreements to which both the United States and 
     the foreign country are parties, or
       ``(B) constitute discriminatory nontariff trade barriers;
       ``(2) a foreign country may be determined to deny fair and 
     equitable market access for textile or apparel products, 
     notwithstanding the fact that the foreign country may be in 
     compliance with the specific obligations of the Agreement on 
     Textiles and Clothing referred to in section 101(d)(4) of the 
     Uruguay Round Agreements Act; and

[[Page S7820]]

       ``(3) fair and equitable market access is not demonstrated 
     only by access for those textile and apparel products that 
     are subsequently reexported to the United States as finished 
     textile or apparel products.

     In determining whether a foreign country denies fair and 
     equitable market access, the Trade Representative shall 
     consider whether the foreign country has enacted and is 
     enforcing laws which prevent and punish the manufacture, 
     sale, or exportation of counterfeit textile and apparel 
     goods.
       ``(e) Publication.--The Trade Representative shall publish 
     in the Federal Register a list of foreign countries 
     identified under subsection (a) and shall make such revisions 
     to the list as may be required by reason of action under 
     subsection (c).''.
       (2) Conforming amendment.--The table of contents for the 
     Trade Act of 1974 is amended by inserting after the item 
     relating to section 182 the following new item:

``Sec. 183. Identification of countries that deny market access for 
              textile and apparel products.''.

       (3) Title iii action.--Section 302(b)(2)(A) of the Trade 
     Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2412(b)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting 
     ``or section 183(a)(2)'' after ``182(a)(2)''.

     SEC. 4. TEXTILE GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS RESEARCH FUND.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the United 
     States Treasury a Textile Global Competitiveness Research 
     Fund (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Fund'').
       (b) Use of Fund.--Amounts in the Fund shall be available, 
     as provided in appropriations Acts, in accordance with 
     subsection (c)--
       (1) for programs aimed at enhancing the international 
     competitiveness of the United States textile and apparel 
     manufacturers; and
       (2) to the Customs Service for the enforcement of laws 
     governing trade in textile and apparel goods.
       (c) Funding.--
       (1) Deposits.--There shall be deposited in the Fund in each 
     fiscal year the amount, if any, by which--
       (A) the amount collected in fines by virtue of the 
     amendments made by section 9 exceed
       (B) the total amount collected for violations involving 
     textile and apparel goods during fiscal year 1996 under 
     section 592 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as in effect on the 
     day before the date of the enactment of this Act, adjusted in 
     accordance with paragraph (2).
       (2) Adjustment.--(A) The amount referred to in paragraph 
     (1)(B) shall be increased in each fiscal year beginning in 
     fiscal year 1998 by an amount equal to the amount described 
     in paragraph (1)(B) multiplied by the cost-of-living 
     adjustment.
       (B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the cost-of-living 
     adjustment for any fiscal year is the percentage (if any) by 
     which--
       (i) the CPI for the preceding fiscal year, exceeds
       (ii) the CPI for the fiscal year 1996.
       (C) For purposes of subparagraph (B), the CPI for any 
     fiscal year is the average of the Consumer Price Index as of 
     the close of the 12-month period ending on August 31 of such 
     fiscal year.
       (D) For purposes of subparagraph (C), the term ``Consumer 
     Price Index'' means the last Consumer Price Index for all-
     urban consumers published by the Department of Labor.
       (E) If any increase determined under this paragraph is not 
     a multiple of $100, such increase shall be rounded to the 
     nearest multiple of $100.
       (3) Allocations.--(A) 25 percent of the amounts deposited 
     in the Fund in each fiscal year shall be made available to 
     the Customs Service under subsection (b)(2).
       (B) 75 percent of the amounts deposited in the Fund in each 
     fiscal year shall be made available for programs designated 
     pursuant to subsection (b)(1).
       (d) Annual Report to Congress.--The Secretary of Commerce 
     shall submit to the Congress, not later than April 1 of each 
     year, a report on the contribution to the United States 
     economy of the domestic textile and apparel industry.

     SEC. 5. TEXTILE AND APPAREL QUOTA LEVELS.

       (a) For Countries That are not WTO Members and do not Have 
     Textile Agreements With the United States.--
       (1) If exports to the united states exceed $100,000,000 
     annually or are creating serious damage or actual threat 
     thereof.--The Trade Representative shall take the necessary 
     steps to negotiate an agreement, in accordance with paragraph 
     (2), between the United States and any country that--
       (A) is not a WTO member and is not a country to which 
     section 3(a) applies,
       (B) is not a party to a textile agreement with the United 
     States, and
       (C) whose exports to the United States of textile and 
     apparel goods--
       (i) are valued at more than $100,000,000 in the most recent 
     12-month period ending on the last day of the preceding 
     month; or
       (ii) are creating serious damage or actual threat thereof 
     to the domestic industry in the United States in any textile 
     category established by CITA.
       (2) Contents of agreements.--It is the sense of the 
     Congress that an agreement negotiated with a country under 
     paragraph (1) should establish maximum amounts of textile and 
     apparel products of that country that may be imported into 
     the United States that do not exceed--
       (A) in the first 12-month period that the agreement is in 
     effect, an increase of more than 8 percent of the total 
     volume in square meter equivalents of all textile and apparel 
     products of that country imported in the 12-month period 
     ending on the date the negotiations began; and
       (B) in each subsequent 12-month period that the agreement 
     is in effect, an increase of not more than the percentage of 
     growth in the domestic market in the United States for all 
     textile and apparel products in the preceding 12-month 
     period.
       (3) Inclusion of other provisions.--Those provisions 
     required to be included in an agreement under section 3(b) 
     may be included in the agreement negotiated under this 
     subsection.
       (4) Determinations of serious damage or actual threat 
     thereof.--CITA shall make the determinations of serious 
     damage or actual threat thereof referred to in paragraph (2), 
     using the criteria set forth in paragraph 3 of Article 6 of 
     the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.
       (b) For Countries That are not WTO Members and Have Textile 
     Agreements With the United States.--In the case of a country 
     that is not a WTO member but is a party to a textile 
     agreement with the United States, the Trade Representative 
     shall take the necessary steps to negotiate a textile 
     agreement to go into effect when the current agreement 
     expires, that allows imports of textile and apparel products 
     of that country, during each 12-month period that the 
     agreement is in effect, to increase by not more than the 
     percentage of growth in the domestic market in the United 
     States for all textile and apparel products in the preceding 
     12-month period.
       (c) For Countries That Are Acceding To the WTO.--In any 
     case in which the United States negotiates a protocol for 
     accession to the WTO under section 3(a), the Trade 
     Representative shall negotiate for inclusion in that protocol 
     provisions that require that the 10-year period provided in 
     the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing for phasing out of 
     quotas under that Agreement begin, with respect to that 
     country, on the day on which that country accedes to the WTO.

     SEC. 6. CIRCUMVENTION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS.

       (a) Policy for Countries That are not WTO Members.--In the 
     case of any country that is not a WTO member and--
       (1) is negotiating a protocol with the United States for 
     that country's accession to the World Trade Organization,
       (2) is a party to a bilateral agreement with the United 
     States that governs imports into the United States of textile 
     and apparel products of that country, or
       (3) is a country with which the United States is 
     negotiating an agreement under section 5(a),

     the Trade Representative shall ensure that the protocol under 
     paragraph (1), a subsequent agreement to replace the 
     agreement under paragraph (2) when it expires, or the 
     agreement described in paragraph (3), as the case may be, 
     provides for a reduction in the quantity of textile and 
     apparel goods of that country that may be imported into the 
     United States if CITA determines that the agreement is being 
     circumvented and that no, or inadequate measures, are being 
     applied by that country to take action against such 
     circumvention. Any determination by CITA under the preceding 
     sentence shall be made in accordance with the standards set 
     forth in section 8.
       (b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, a reduction 
     in a country's textile and apparel quotas is a reduction in 
     quantitative limitations otherwise applicable to imports into 
     the United States of that country's textile and apparel 
     products that is equal to--
       (1) the quantity of the goods involved in the circumvention 
     if the circumvention is the first within the most recent 36-
     month period;
       (2) twice the quantity of goods involved in the 
     circumvention if the circumvention is the second in the most 
     recent 36-month period; or
       (3) three times the quantity of goods involved in the 
     circumvention if the circumvention is the third or more in 
     the most recent 36-month period.
       (c) Policy for WTO Members.--In any case in which a WTO 
     member is found by CITA to have circumvented the Agreement on 
     Textiles and Clothing or any other textile agreement, CITA 
     shall pursue the maximum penalty consistent with the WTO.

     SEC. 7. CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

       (a) Sharing of Customs Information With CITA.--The Customs 
     Service shall, upon initiating an investigation relating to a 
     violation of the laws of the United States governing 
     international trade in textile and apparel goods, inform CITA 
     of the investigation in any case in which the alleged 
     violation, if true, would constitute a circumvention of any 
     textile agreement. In any such case, the Customs Service 
     shall provide to CITA--
       (1) all information CITA requests that is relevant to the 
     alleged violation and required in order for CITA to pursue a 
     charge against the quotas on imports of textile and apparel 
     products of that country as a result of the violation; and
       (2) notification, at least every 30 days until the 
     investigation is referred to the Department of Justice or the 
     Customs Service closes the investigation, of the progress of 
     the investigation.
       (b) Factors in Proceeding With Charges Against Quotas.--In 
     deciding whether to pursue a charge described in subsection 
     (a)

[[Page S7821]]

     as a result of an alleged violation described in subsection 
     (a), CITA, in addition to any other relevant factors which 
     CITA may consider, shall weigh the impact of proceeding with 
     such charge on potential prosecutions or civil penalties and 
     future enforcement of textile agreements, and shall consider 
     the amount of the alleged violation, the probability of 
     successful criminal prosecution, the degree of compliance by 
     the true country of origin with textile agreements, and the 
     damage the alleged violation would inflict on the domestic 
     textile and apparel industry.
       (c) Decision Not To Pursue a Charge.--In any case in which 
     CITA decides under subsection (b) not to pursue a charge, the 
     Customs Service shall, as long as that decision is in effect, 
     report to CITA, in lieu of the reports under subsection 
     (a)(2)--
       (1) at least once every 6 months from the date on which the 
     Customs Service initiated the case, on the status of the 
     investigation; and
       (2) within 10 business days after the Customs Service 
     obtains new information or evidence materially relevant to 
     the alleged violation.
       (d) Standing Not Provided.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
     construed to provide standing in any court or administrative 
     proceeding for legal action against the United States arising 
     from actions taken in carrying out the laws governing trade 
     in textile or apparel goods.
       (e) Referral of Cases to Department of Justice.--In any 
     case in which--
       (1) the Customs Service refers an alleged violation 
     described in subsection (a) to the Department of Justice for 
     prosecution, and
       (2) no indictment has been brought in the case within 6 
     months after the referral,

     the Attorney General shall provide to CITA all information 
     relevant to imposing a charge against the quotas on imports 
     of textile and apparel products of the country concerned as a 
     result of the violation. CITA may extend the 6-month period 
     referred to in paragraph (2) if requested to do so by the 
     Attorney General.
       (f) Disclosure of Certain Confidential Information Not 
     Required.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
     require the disclosure by the Customs Service or the 
     Department of Justice of confidential information relevant to 
     possible imposition of criminal or civil penalties when that 
     information is not relevant to the imposition of a charge by 
     CITA against the quotas on imports of textile and apparel 
     products of a country.
       (g) Initiation of Investigations.--
       (1) Basis for initiation.--Subject to paragraph (2), 
     whenever the Customs Service receives credible evidence that 
     circumvention of a textile agreement has occurred, the 
     Customs Service shall initiate an investigation, to which a 
     customs officer shall be assigned, to determine if such 
     circumvention has occurred, unless such evidence is directly 
     related to an open investigation commenced prior to the 
     receipt of such evidence.
       (2) Waiver.--The head of the Division of Textile 
     Enforcement established under section 10 may determine not to 
     initiate an investigation under paragraph (1) if he or she 
     transmits to CITA a report setting forth the reasons for that 
     determination.

     SEC. 8. STANDARDS OF PROOF.

       (a) In General.--CITA may determine that a country has 
     circumvented a textile agreement if CITA determines, after 
     consultations with the country concerned, that there is a 
     substantial likelihood that the circumvention occurred.
       (b) Failure of Country to Cooperate.--
       (1) Reliance on best available information.--If a country 
     fails to cooperate with CITA in an investigation to determine 
     if a textile agreement has been circumvented, CITA shall base 
     its determination on the best available information.
       (2) Acts constituting failure to cooperate.--Acts 
     indicating failure of a country to cooperate under paragraph 
     (1) include, but are not limited to--
       (A) denying entry of officials of the Customs Service to 
     investigate violations of, or promote compliance with, any 
     textile agreement;
       (B) providing appropriate United States officials with 
     inaccurate or incomplete information, including information 
     demonstrating compliance with United States rules of origin 
     for textile and apparel products; and
       (C) denying appropriate United States officials access to 
     information or documentation relating to production capacity 
     of, and outward processing done by, manufacturers within the 
     country.

     SEC. 9. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF CUSTOMS LAWS INVOLVING 
                   TEXTILE AND APPAREL GOODS.

       (a) Penalties.--Section 592 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
     U.S.C. 1592) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Penalties Involving Textile and Apparel Goods.--
       ``(1) Fraud.--Notwithstanding subsection (c), the civil 
     penalty for a fraudulent violation of subsection (a) 
     involving textile and apparel goods--
       ``(A) shall, subject to subparagraph (B), be double the 
     amount that would otherwise apply under subsection (c)(1); 
     and
       ``(B) shall be an amount not to exceed 300 percent of the 
     declared value in the United States of the merchandise if the 
     violation has the effect of circumventing any quota on 
     textile and apparel goods.
       ``(2) Gross negligence.--Notwithstanding subsection (c), 
     the civil penalty for a grossly negligent violation of 
     subsection (a) involving textile and apparel goods--
       ``(A) shall, subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), be 
     double the amount that would otherwise apply under subsection 
     (c)(2);
       ``(B) shall, if the violation has the effect of 
     circumventing any quota of the United States on textile and 
     apparel goods, and subject to subparagraph (C), be 200 
     percent of the declared value of the merchandise; and
       ``(C) shall, if the violation is a third or subsequent 
     offense occurring within 3 years, be the penalty for a 
     fraudulent violation under paragraph (1) (A) or (B), 
     whichever is applicable.
       ``(3) Negligence.--Notwithstanding subsection (c), the 
     civil penalty for a negligent violation of subsection (a) 
     involving textile and apparel goods--
       ``(A) shall, subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), be 
     double the amount that would otherwise apply under subsection 
     (a)(3);
       ``(B) shall, if the violation has the effect of 
     circumventing any quota of the United States on textile and 
     apparel goods, and subject to subparagraph (C), be 100 
     percent of the declared value of the merchandise; and
       ``(C) shall, if the violation is a third or subsequent 
     offense occurring within 3 years, be the penalty for a 
     grossly negligent violation under paragraph (2) (A) or (B), 
     whichever is applicable.''.
       (b) Mitigation.--Section 618 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
     U.S.C. 1618) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Whenever'' and inserting ``(a) In 
     General.--Whenever'', and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Mitigation Rules Relating To Textile And Apparel 
     Goods.--
       ``(1) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Secretary of the Treasury may remit or mitigate any 
     fine or penalty imposed pursuant to section 592 involving 
     textile or apparel goods only if--
       ``(A) in the case of a first offense, the violation is due 
     to either negligence or gross negligence; and
       ``(B) in the case of a second or subsequent offense, prior 
     disclosure (as defined in section 592(c)(4)) is made within 
     180 days after the entry of the goods.
       ``(2) Special rule for prior disclosures after 180 days.--
     In the case of a second or subsequent offense where prior 
     disclosure (as defined in section 592(c)(4)) is made after 
     180 days after the entry of the goods, the Secretary of the 
     Treasury may remit or mitigate not more than 50 percent of 
     such fines or penalties.''.
       (c) Seizure and Forfeiture.--Section 596(c)(2) of the 
     Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1595a(c)(2)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``or'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:
       ``(G) consists of textile or apparel goods introduced into 
     the United States for entry, transit, or exportation, and
       ``(i) the merchandise or its container bears false or 
     fraudulent markings with respect to the country of origin, 
     unless the importer of the merchandise demonstrates that the 
     markings were made in order to comply with the rules of 
     origin of the country that is the final destination of the 
     merchandise; or
       ``(ii) the merchandise or its container is introduced or 
     attempted to be introduced into the United States by means 
     of, or such introduction or attempt is aided or facilitated 
     by means of, a material false statement, act, or omission 
     with the intention or effect of--

       ``(I) circumventing any quota that applies to the 
     merchandise, or
       ``(II) undervaluing the merchandise.''.

       (d) Certificates of Origin.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, all importations of textile and apparel 
     goods shall be accompanied by--
       (1)(A) the name and address of the manufacturer or producer 
     of the goods, and any other information with respect to the 
     manufacturer or producer that the Customs Service may 
     require; and
       (B) if there is more than one manufacturer or producer, or 
     there is a contractor or subcontractor of the manufacturer or 
     producer with respect to the manufacture or production of the 
     goods, the information required under subparagraph (A) with 
     respect to each such manufacturer, producer, contractor, or 
     subcontractor, including a description of the process 
     performed by each such entity;
       (2) a certification by the importer that the importer has 
     exercised reasonable care to ascertain the true country of 
     origin of the textile and apparel goods and the accuracy of 
     all other information provided on the documentation 
     accompanying the imported goods, as well as a certification 
     of the specific action taken by the importer to ensure 
     reasonable care for purposes of this paragraph; and
       (3) a certification by the importer that the goods being 
     entered do not violate applicable trademark, copyright, and 
     patent laws.

     Information provided under this subsection shall be 
     sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the United States 
     rules of origin for textile and apparel goods.

     SEC. 10. DIVISION ON TEXTILE ENFORCEMENT.

       (a) Establishment.--The Commissioner of Customs shall, not 
     later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, establish in the Customs Service a Division on Textile 
     Enforcement (hereafter in this section referred to as the 
     ``DTE''), using existing resources available to the Customs 
     Service. The head of the DTE shall be an officer

[[Page S7822]]

     of the Customs Service in a position at the level of an 
     Assistant Commissioner of Customs.
       (b) Functions.--The DTE shall be responsible for enforcing 
     all laws of the United States, and all bilateral and 
     multilateral treaties and agreements, governing the 
     importation of textile and apparel goods, that the Customs 
     Service is responsible for enforcing.
       (c) Personnel.--The Commissioner of Customs shall assign 
     personnel to the DTE who have expertise in textile and 
     apparel goods, including, but not limited to, import 
     specialists, investigators, attorneys, accountants, 
     laboratory technicians, and members of the textile production 
     verification teams.
       (d) Subdivisions.--The DTE shall establish a separate 
     subdivision for each geographic region which is a major 
     source of textile and apparel goods imported into the United 
     States, including a subdivision for each of the following:
       (1) The Far East.
       (2) South Asia.
       (3) South America.
       (4) Central America and the Caribbean.
       (5) The Middle East and Africa.
       (e) Assignments Abroad.--
       (1) To certain countries.--If permitted by the host 
     country, at least 1 customs officer shall be assigned in each 
     country, other than Canada or Mexico, whose annual exports to 
     the United States of textile and apparel goods equal or 
     exceed 500,000,000 square meter equivalents. Each such 
     customs officer shall be responsible only for matters 
     relating to exports to the United States of textile and 
     apparel goods.
       (2) Responsibility of secretary of state.--The Secretary of 
     State shall take the necessary steps to facilitate the 
     assignment abroad of customs officers under paragraph (1), by 
     seeking to obtain the approval of the foreign governments 
     concerned for such assignments.
       (f) Reports.--
       (1) Reports by customs officers.--Each customs officer 
     assigned under subsection (e)(1) shall prepare and submit to 
     the Commissioner of Customs, at least monthly, reports 
     summarizing his or her activities, assessing the compliance 
     with applicable textile agreements by the country concerned, 
     and assessing the intellectual property protection provided 
     to textile and apparel goods in that country.
       (2) Reports by dte.--The DTE shall prepare and submit to 
     the Commissioner an annual report--
       (A) evaluating the extent of circumvention of textile 
     agreements with the United States, the extent of compliance 
     with the rules of origin of the United States relating to 
     textile and apparel goods, the extent to which countries act 
     in compliance with Article XX of the GATT 1994 (as defined in 
     section 2 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 
     3501)) with respect to textile and apparel goods, and the 
     adequacy of intellectual property protection provided to 
     textile and apparel goods; and
       (B) recommending new methods, if necessary, to address the 
     matters evaluated under subparagraph (A).
       (3) Availability of reports.--Each report submitted under 
     this subsection shall be made available to appropriate 
     agencies of the executive branch, including the Office of 
     Textiles, Apparel, and Consumer Goods of the Department of 
     Commerce.

     SEC. 11. WITHDRAWAL OF UNILATERAL TRADE CONCESSIONS.

       (a) Withdrawal of Concessions.--In any case in which--
       (1) CITA determines that a country--
       (A) has demonstrated a consistent pattern of circumventing 
     textile agreements with the United States,
       (B) refuses to cooperate with investigations by the United 
     States of any such alleged circumvention,
       (C) fails to provide adequate enforcement of intellectual 
     property rights with respect to textile and apparel goods, or
       (D) fails to provide fair and equitable market access for 
     textile and apparel products of the United States, and
       (2) the United States extends to the products of that 
     country preferential tariff or quota treatment other than 
     pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement,

     then such preferential treatment shall be withdrawn from the 
     textile and apparel goods that are products of that country 
     for such period as shall be determined by the Trade 
     Representative, in consultation with CITA.
       (b) National Interest Waiver.--The President may waive the 
     application of subsection (a) with respect to a country if 
     the President determines that the waiver will allow the 
     United States to secure effective commitments from that 
     country to prevent future circumvention of textile agreements 
     with the United States, or is otherwise in the national 
     interest. The President shall publish any such waiver, and 
     the reasons for the waiver, in the Federal Register.

     SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this Act:
       (1) Agreement on textiles and clothing.--The term 
     ``Agreement on Textiles and Clothing'' means the Agreement on 
     Textiles and Clothing referred to in section 101(d)(4) of the 
     Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(4)).
       (2) Circumvent and circumvention.--The terms ``circumvent'' 
     and ``circumvention'' refer to a situation in which a 
     country--
       (A) takes no, or inadequate measures to prevent illegal 
     transshipment of goods that is carried out by rerouting, 
     false declaration concerning country or place of origin, 
     falsification of official documents, evasion of United States 
     rules of origin for textile and apparel goods, or any other 
     means; or
       (B) takes no or inadequate measures to prevent being used 
     as a transit point for the shipment of goods in violation of 
     an applicable textile agreement.
       (3) CITA.--The term ``CITA'' means the Committee for the 
     Implementation of Textile Agreements established under 
     Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972 (7 U.S.C. 1854 note), 
     or any successor entity or officer performing functions of 
     that committee after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (4) Country.--The term ``country'' includes a separate 
     customs territory, within the meaning of Article XII of the 
     WTO Agreement or other applicable international agreement.
       (5) Customs service.--The term ``Customs Service'' means 
     the United States Customs Service.
       (6) Multifiber Arrangement.--The term ``Multifiber 
     Arrangement'' means the Arrangement Regarding International 
     Trade in Textiles referred to in Article 1(3) of the 
     Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.
       (7) Textile agreement; Textile agreement with the United 
     States.--The terms ``textile agreement'' and ``textile 
     agreement with the United States'' mean an agreement relating 
     to textile and apparel goods that is negotiated under section 
     204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1854), 
     including the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.
       (8) Trade representative.--The term ``Trade 
     Representative'' means the United States Trade 
     Representative.
       (9) World trade organization and wto.--The terms ``World 
     Trade Organization'' and ``WTO'' mean the organization 
     established pursuant to the WTO Agreement.
       (10) WTO agreement.--The term ``WTO Agreement'' means the 
     Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization entered 
     into on April 15, 1994.
       (11) WTO member.--The term ``WTO member'' means a state, or 
     separate customs territory (within the meaning of Article XII 
     of the WTO Agreement.

     SEC. 13. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take 
     effect on October 1, 1996.

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to support the efforts of 
my good friend from Kentucky, Senator Ford, and the tireless efforts of 
my colleague in the House, Congressman John Spratt. Mr. President, in 
the last year alone we have lost over 150,000 jobs in the textile and 
apparel industry. Just last week, Springs Industries announced it would 
close several plants and lay off 850 employees.
  Our trade deficit in textiles and apparel stands at an appalling $35 
billion.
  As bad as that number is, the sad fact is that $35 billion 
underestimates the true size of the trade deficit. Because of the 
massive amounts of transhipment that have flooded our shores, the 
actual trade deficit is some $6 billion larger. What is left of the 
quota system has become a porous sieve, subject to the manipulation of 
shady importers and retailers who look the other way at fraudulent 
schemes designed to evade our quota system, and steal jobs from the 
American worker.
  The legislation being introduced will shut down the illegal evasion 
of our quotas. It slaps harsh penalties on customs offenders, and it 
provides customs with adequate resources to enforce our textile 
agreements.
  Mr. President, the time has come for the administration to crack down 
on this lawless behavior and stand up for the American worker.
  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, this is important legislation that will be 
beneficial to an enormous number of Americans because it will open 
foreign markets to U.S. products and countries that engage in dishonest 
activities in international trade. Those that violate trade laws and 
trade agreements will pay for it. This bill establishes a level playing 
field for U.S. textile companies and takes an unmistakable stand for 
American workers. If foreign markets can be opened, and U.S. trade with 
countries overseas increased, it will be a tremendous boost for U.S. 
jobs.
  Mr. President, the economic name of the game as we approach the 21st 
century lies in increasing our exports.
  This bill addresses a pressing need. American workers, as matters now 
stand, are being squeezed from every direction. Many countries, 
especially Mainland China, are deliberately violating their trade 
agreements; they are transshipping their goods through other nations 
deliberately to circumvent United States textile import laws. American 
workers should not be forced to compete against foreign companies that 
deliberately engage in illegal and immoral trade practices.

[[Page S7823]]

  Such countries, Communist China, India, Macau, Hong Kong, to name a 
few, pump billions of dollars of products into our markets, cheating 
every step of the way. The Winston-Salem Journal pointed out the other 
day that the United States Customs Service estimates that China alone 
illegally transships $4 to $6 billion per year. This banditry costs 
American businesses--and, therefore, consumers--up to $4 billion a 
year, not to mention the loss of countless thousands of American jobs.
  Mr. President, S. 1951--the Textile and Apparel Global 
Competitiveness Act of 1996--will, when it becomes law, impose stiff 
sanctions on countries that transship textile products into the United 
States. Current penalties will be doubled--in some cases tripled--and 
more reliable proof of the country of origin will be required for 
textile imports entering the United States. S. 1951 enables the Customs 
Service to seize goods imported illegally by the use of false or 
misleading statements or acts.
  So, Mr. President, this bill S. 1951, of which I am a principal 
cosponsor, is about fair trade and reciprocity. Since U.S. markets are 
open, it is only fair to demand that other countries open their 
markets. As matters now stand countless countries close their markets 
to American products while pouring their exports through our open 
doors. China, Pakistan, and India together ship 9.4 billion dollars' 
worth of goods to United States markets--more than 100 times the $92 
million in United States goods that were, at last reports, allowed into 
their countries.
  S. 1951, when enacted, will require United States negotiators to 
secure effective access to foreign markets for United States textile 
and apparel products; in other words, it will press open markets of 
countries that have shut their doors in Uncle Sam's face. If we are 
going to be hospitable to foreign imports, it's only fair to require 
the same of them. One specific benefit of this bill is that it will 
deny to China the free trade benefits of the World Trade Organization 
until China dismantles her iron fence against United States textiles. 
China must not be permitted to hold membership in the WTO until China 
removes her arrogant trade barriers.
  Moreover, Mr. President, Communist China competes with American 
workers with unspeakable use of slave labor and child labor. Chinese 
slave laborers are often political prisoners. Exploitation of children 
as workers is rampant, especially in Asia.
  Mr. President, the United States must never forget that we become a 
part of what we condone. Therefore, the need for this bill is obvious 
in the light of the tremendous loss of U.S. jobs inflicted on American 
workers--particularly in North Carolina--by the illegal practices of 
foreign countries. The United States lost 53,000 textile jobs last 
year. North Carolina lost as many as in the 3 previous years combined, 
with plant shutdowns and layoffs costing 11,316 North Carolina jobs. 
Fruit of the Loom alone was forced to abolish 3,200 jobs in 1995, and a 
Fruit of the Loom spokesman blamed it on ``the cumulative impact of 
NAFTA and GATT'' trade agreements.
  Headline after headline has announced major company shutdowns or job 
layoffs. An eye-popping review article in the Winston-Salem Journal 
provided a long list of companies--including, among others, Sara Lee, 
Fieldcrest Cannon, Dupont, and Tultex--that have closed plants and laid 
off workers in North Carolina in the first part of this year. Overall, 
2,918 layoffs in 26 North Carolina cities and towns were announced in 
the first 4 months of 1996.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the aforementioned 
Winston-Salem Journal article be printed in the Record at the 
conclusion of my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit 1.)
  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, while foreign imports are pouring in like a 
tidal wave, North Carolina workers are being forced onto the 
unemployment lines. This obviously is having a devastating impact on 
families and communities across America. Mr. President, this bill isn't 
``protectionism,'' it's ``survivalism.'' United States business 
should--and must--demand access to the international market so that 
American workers can have a fair shot in world competition.

                               Exhibit 1

               [From Winston-Salem Journal, July 7, 1996]

                            Sock It to 'Em?


               congress takes aim at asia in textile bill

                           (By John Hoeffel)

       Washington.--Stories of textile plants closing and laid-off 
     workers scrambling to find scarce low-skilled jobs in this 
     high-tech world have been commonplace for at least 20 years. 
     The number of textile employees has been in a steady slide.
       But the news appears to be getting worse.
       Last year, North Carolina lost as many textile jobs as in 
     the previous three years combined. Plant closing and layoffs 
     cost the state 11,316 jobs.
       In the first four months of this year, 22 companies 
     announced 2,918 layoffs in 26 North Carolina cities and 
     towns.
       North Carolina is the nation's No. 1 textile-producing 
     state, and it has almost a third of the employees.
       Nationwide, 53,500 textile jobs were lost in 1995.
       Even with those stunning losses, textiles and apparel are 
     still the top manufacturing industry in North Carolina, with 
     annual sales averaging about $25 billion. Three of the 
     state's top five employers are textile companies, including 
     Sara Lee Corp., which has several divisions based in Winston-
     Salem.
       At the end of last year, 261,641 North Carolinians still 
     worked in the industry, which is concentrated in the 
     Piedmont. Forsyth, Guilford and Surry counties all rank in 
     the top 10 counties for textile and apparel employment.
       The politically powerful companies have a long record of 
     looking to Washington for help, and the South's congressmen 
     have an equally long record of hastening to erect barriers to 
     cheap imports.
       But this is a new economic era.
       Free trade is now the mantra of centrists in both the 
     Republican and Democratic parties. The North American Free 
     Trade Agreement and the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
     Trade dismantled many trade barriers, including protectionist 
     textile quotas that will be completely eliminated by 2005.
       Faced with mounting job losses, congressmen from the South 
     cast about for another avenue and found it with a bill that 
     was introduced last month.
       That bill, called the Textile and Apparel Global 
     Competitiveness Act, aims not at keeping imports out, but at 
     cracking open foreign markets that are closed to American 
     exports. ``We expect their door to be more than slightly 
     ajar,'' said Rep. Howard Coble, the 6th District Republican 
     who is the chairman of the House textile caucus and an 
     original co-sponsor of the bill. ``We're not building a wall 
     around ourselves and trying to block imports.''
       The bill also aims at ending transshipments, the illegal 
     practice of sneaking textiles from one country into the 
     United States under another country's quota by diverting them 
     through that third country. The bill is targeted at Asia in 
     general and China in particular.
       The United States exported $1.96 billion in textiles to the 
     top 14 textile producing countries in Asia. Those countries 
     exported $24.79 billion in textiles to the United States.
       A source with the U.S. Customs Service says that China 
     transships $4 billion to $6 billion through such places as 
     Hong Kong and Macau, where the products are relabeled ``Made 
     in Hong Kong'' or ``Made in Macau.''
       Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., who is no fan of China and has 
     railed against transshipping, plans to sponsor a version of 
     the bill in the Senate. ``It requires retaliation against 
     countries that just flout honest and decency in international 
     trade and countries that are closed to us and do business in 
     our country,'' he said. ``It's time for us to stand up for 
     American workers.''
       The bill strengthens the roles of the U.S. trade 
     representative in negotiating agreements and the Customs 
     Service in investigating illegal shipments. It establishes 
     steep penalties for violations. It doubles some fines and 
     reduces quotas by an amount equal to three times the volume 
     of transshipped goods when a country is caught transshipping 
     for the third time.
       Textile importers, who could be socked with stiff penalties 
     for importing illegal products, oppose the bill.
       ``It's the same industry coming back after many, many years 
     of protection wanting more special favors from government,'' 
     said Laura E. Jones, the executive director of the U.S. 
     Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel. ``They 
     still don't want to compete.''
       The bill's supporters, sensitive about their protectionist 
     past, react defensively, bringing up the subject of 
     protectionism on their own. ``We're going to have to do a 
     good marketing job in making it clear that this is not a 
     protectionist proposal,'' Coble said.
       But Jones said that the bill amounts to back-door 
     protectionism, making it easier for a select industry to 
     pursue sanctions against importers and foreign countries. 
     ``They do not need to have standards lowered for them so they 
     can go around harassing our industry,'' she said.
       As with the old protectionist legislation, Jones said, the 
     consumers lose. ``I just think the consumers end up paying 
     more in the end.'' she said.
       She also charged that Customs has not discovered massive 
     transshipment because they

[[Page S7824]]

     don't exist. ``The Customs Service can find cocaine and 
     heroin, but they can't find bras and underpants,'' she said 
     sarcastically. ``If they can't find it now, this isn't going 
     to be an incentive to them to find it later.''
       The bill is not expected to pass this session because the 
     schedule is too crowded.
       ``We just don't want this shoved off the table,'' Coble 
     said.
       Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., was the main author and 
     introduced the bill. But in an election-year press release, 
     Rep. Richard Burr, the 5th District Republican and an 
     original co-sponsor, claimed credit for introducing it.
       By all accounts, Burr worked hard to collect co-sponsors to 
     help demonstrate wide support for the bill. It has more than 
     100.
       Some in the industry have criticized the Clinton 
     administration, arguing that it has done little to enforce 
     textile treaties. Helms, though, was more expansive in 
     directing his criticism. ``I have got to be honest and say 
     that previous administrations and the present administration 
     have not done enough. It's a bipartisan folly,'' he said.
       Work on the bill seemed to rattle the administration's 
     cage.
       Customs announced last month that it was taking measures 
     designed to stem Chinese transhipments through Macau and Hong 
     Kong, requiring greater verification that textiles shipped 
     from those countries were made there. Customs just this month 
     received the power to block shipments from factories that 
     won't allow Customs investigators inside.
       Whether the bill and this Customs effort, will half the job 
     losses is unclear. Burr said that it is imperative to 
     introduced the bill because of continuing plant closings, 
     citing the two that Sara Lee Knit Products announced in 
     Sparta, costing 250 jobs, and in Jefferson, costing 589.
       But Sara Lee officials said that both plants closed because 
     of weak domestic sales and that opening foreign markets would 
     not have prevented the move. ``It's really completely 
     unrelated,'' Nancy Young said.
       Textile and apparel companies are suffering through an 
     extended retail slowdown. But the companies are also cutting 
     jobs, as Gordon A. Berkstresser III notes, because of 
     continuing automation and other efficiencies.
       And Berkstresser, a professor of textile and apparel 
     management at N.C. State University, also questioned whether 
     the companies are prepared to sell in Indonesia or Malaysia.
       ``We haven't gone over and done the kind of market research 
     to see what kind of products we can sell in Asia,'' he said.
       But Dennis M. Julian the executive vice president of the 
     N.C. Textile Manufacturers Association, said he thinks that 
     the bill would help stabilize the industry.
       Jerry Cook, the director of international trade for Sara 
     Lee Knit Products, said: ``Anything that helps open market 
     access, I think we'd be really supportive of. It's a tough 
     market out there.''


                        textile trade with asia

                        [In millions of dollars]

U.S. Exports to:
    Bangladesh......................................................
    China..........................................................63.0
    Taiwan.........................................................93.5
    Hong Kong.....................................................268.3
    India..........................................................14.9
    Indonesia......................................................21.4
    Japan.........................................................145.6
    South Korea...................................................136.7
    Macau...........................................................
    Malaysia.......................................................23.0
    Pakistan........................................................
    Philippines....................................................53.1
    Singapore.....................................................103.6
    Thailand.......................................................41.3
                                                             __________
                                                             
      Total.....................................................1,964.4

                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

U.S. Imports from:
    Bangladesh..................................................1,114.5
    China.......................................................4,802.5
    Taiwan......................................................2,757.8
    Hong Kong...................................................4,390.8
    India.......................................................1,614.9
    Indonesia...................................................1,336.2
    Japan.........................................................481.1
    South Korea.................................................2,271.1
    Macau.........................................................764.3
    Malaysia......................................................745.2
    Pakistan......................................................964.8
    Philippines.................................................1,704.0
    Singapore.....................................................425.5
    Thailand....................................................1,419.8
                                                             __________
                                                             
      Total....................................................24,792.5

  TEXTILE AND APPAREL PLANT CLOSINGS AND LAYOFFS IN NORTH CAROLINA--ANNOUNCED IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS  
                                                      YEAR                                                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Company                         Location             Jobs lost              Reason given         
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Champion Products....................  Weaverville.............             200  Cutting costs                  
CMI Industries.......................  Elkin, Boonville........             100  Slow sales                     
Comar industries.....................  Monroe..................             105  Decreased demand               
Dupont...............................  Kinston.................             200  Cutting costs                  
                                       Wilmington..............              50  Cutting costs                  
Fieldcrest Cannon....................  Concord.................             150  Relocating operations          
Ithaca Industries....................  Gastonia................              70  Reduction in force             
                                       Wilkesboro..............              50  Reduction in force             
Jaspar Textiles......................  Angler..................              75  Consolidation                  
Jonbil...............................  Henderson...............              62  Import competition             
Lucia................................  Winston-Salem...........              55  Restructuring                  
                                       Elkin...................              13  Restructuring                  
N.C. Garment Co......................  High Point..............              32  Import competition             
Oxford industries....................  Burgaw..................              90  Import competition             
Rocky Mount Mills....................  Monroe..................             320  Competition                    
Royals...............................  Skyland.................              50  Import competition             
Sarah Lee Hosiery....................  Winston-Salem...........              45  Slow sales                     
Sare Lee Knit Products...............  Lumberton...............             370  Cutting costs                  
SCT Yarns............................  Cherryville.............             180  Foreign competition            
SOft Care Apparel Co.................  Fuquay-Varina...........             100  Economics                      
Southern Apparel Co..................  Robersonville...........              80  Lost contract                  
The Bibb Co..........................  Rockingham..............             250  Downsizing                     
Tultex...............................  Marion..................             141  Production moved overseas      
U.S. Colors..........................  Rocky Mount.............              50  Ceased product line            
Whisper Soft Mills...................  Kenansville.............              80  Decreased profits              
                                                                ----------------                                
      Total jobs lost to closings and  ........................           2,918                                 
       layoffs.                                                                                                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Newspaper articles supplied to the N.C. Employment Security Commission.                                 

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I wholeheartedly support the bill that the 
Senator from Kentucky [Mr. Ford] has just introduced. The Textile and 
Apparel Global Competitiveness Act of 1996 will provide needed 
protections for struggling U.S. textile and apparel producers from 
unfair competition caused by overseas producers who seek to exceed U.S. 
quotas. These overseas producers ship excess goods through circuitous 
routes so that they appear to originate in third countries whose U.S. 
import quotas have not been met. The Customs Service and industry 
estimates put the cost of this practice to American industry and its 
workers at $2 to $4 billion.
  The Textile and Apparel Global Competitiveness Act requires more 
equitable trade negotiations on textile and apparel goods, with greater 
access to foreign markets for U.S.-produced textile and apparel goods. 
It also provides for increased enforcement of existing trade laws, with 
higher fines providing additional trade adjustment assistance to U.S. 
textile and apparel producers.
  In West Virginia, two companies that sew clothing proudly bearing 
``Made in the USA'' labels, Hodges Apparel and Safety Stitch, have been 
feeling the squeeze created by that kind of overseas competition. This 
spring, both manufacturers were notified that their major supplier 
would be forced to move its work offshore in order to regain 
profitability. Unless these West Virginia firms can garner other 
orders, the last 200 talented and dedicated garment workers in 
Harrisville will be out of work. In this economically challenged area, 
job losses on this scale constitute more than a minor unravelling of 
the economic fabric of Ritchie County--they are a tear in the very 
fabric of American society.
  Mr. President, these potential job losses are not occurring because 
the quality of clothing produced in the United States is poor; quite 
the contrary. U.S.-made clothing and textiles are competitive with 
their overseas competitors on the basis of design, quality, and any 
standard other than cost. But U.S. production costs must include 
pension and health care payments for workers, and costs to meet 
workplace safety and environmental standards. Overseas producers are 
not required to cover these costs and meet these standards. They may 
overwork and underpay their workers, forcing

[[Page S7825]]

them to labor in unsafe factories that pollute the air and water around 
them.
  The United States is proud of its laws protecting workers and the 
environment. The Senate this week voted to increase the minimum wage, 
so that working men and women can provide an adequate standard of 
living for their families. None of us wants to reduce that standard of 
living, or give up workplace safety or clean air and water in order to 
``compete'' with inexpensive goods produced by workers paid just 
pennies a day before they return to squalid homes under skies laden 
with pollutants. But if we are to preserve our jobs in the face of such 
undercutting competition, we must ensure that U.S. producers are needed 
in order to meet the demand for clothing and textile goods. That is, in 
part, why quotas exist--to prevent overseas producers from saturating 
the market for U.S. goods, undercutting U.S. products produced at 
higher cost.
  Attempts by these overseas producers to evade U.S. import quotas, or 
to evade other U.S. trade laws and treaties, must be firmly and 
effectively halted. Enforcement, fines and other remedies must be 
sufficient to deter this kind of behavior. The bill introduced by the 
Senator from Kentucky accurately targets these problems. It also 
provides a source of additional revenue for trade adjustment assistance 
for U.S. textile and apparel producers, helping them to modernize and 
more effectively compete on a cost basis with overseas competitors, 
both here and in foreign markets. I am proud to be a cosponsor, and I 
thank Senator Ford for his leadership in introducing this bill.
  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague from 
Kentucky and others in introducing the Textile and Apparel Global 
Competitiveness Act. This important legislation addresses a problem of 
grave consequence in my State and others where the textile and apparel 
industry has been hurt dramatically in recent years due to job 
relocation and factors resulting from the enactment of NAFTA and GATT. 
This bill does nothing to undo these agreements, but it does go a long 
way toward strengthening protections for the textile and wearing 
apparel sector of the economy and the millions of workers affected by 
the changes which are occurring.
  This legislation requires the U.S. Trade Representative, when 
negotiating textile agreements with nations who are not members of the 
World Trade Organization to secure effective market access for American 
textile and apparel producers. It includes provisions allowing 
penalties for noncompliance with these market-access agreements under 
WTO rules and U.S. law. Furthermore, it creates a special 301 list for 
market access for these products and requires the Secretary of Commerce 
to issue a report to Congress each year that outlines the economic 
contribution of the American textile and apparel industries.
  While the industry enjoys broad support in Congress and in the 
administration, it has been the target of aggressive attacks during the 
last several years. Most of these attacks have been thwarted, but they 
have come at a time when the textile and apparel industry is undergoing 
major transformation as it pushes to increase productivity and to 
become more global in its perspective and methods of operation.
  The American textile and apparel industry is seeking to make a 
successful transition to a quota-free environment within a 10-year 
timeframe. This transition must have the safeguards provided by this 
measure in order to allow the industry to realize that success.
  I congratulate Senator Ford for his leadership on this issue and urge 
my colleagues to join us in supporting the Textile and Apparel Global 
Competitiveness Act.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to join with several of my 
colleagues to sponsor the Customs Enforcement Act of 1996. This 
legislation is designed to strengthen our laws which fight illegal 
trade in textile and apparel items and open foreign markets to more 
American products. A companion measure, H.R. 3654, was recently 
introduced in the House of Representatives.
  Mr. President, I have often stated that trade with other countries 
should be fair, as opposed to free. This means that when exporters from 
another country seek unlimited access to our markets, then our U.S. 
producers should likewise have open access to their country's markets. 
Many examples exist where the United States has given another country 
access to our marketplace, only to have our access limited in their 
country. The legislation we are introducing today attempts to mitigate 
this practice. This measure will require the USTR to secure effective 
market access for U.S. produced textile and apparel products. Further, 
if these markets are not opened, the USTR has the ability to impose 
penalties in an attempt to force these markets open.
  Mr. President, another major concern this legislation attempts to 
address is transshipping. This is a practice where an exporter ships 
goods through a third country to avoid U.S. import quotas. The worst 
offenders in the area of transshipment countries are China, India, and 
Pakistan. It is estimated that transshipments account for at to least 4 
billion dollars' worth of the textile and apparel items shipped into 
the United States in a year and this figure could be as high as $8 
billion. This bill, Mr. President, tightens the requirements for 
importing items into this country and provides for better documentation 
so that transshipping can be more easily traced. Further, penalties are 
increased for each transshipping violation.
  Mr. President, this is not a protectionist bill. Nor does it limit 
textile imports. This measure attempts to level the playing field for 
the domestic textile and apparel industry. I hope my colleagues will 
support this measure and move it expeditiously through the legislative 
process.

                          ____________________