[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H34-H35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 WAIVER FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF UNITED 
 STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
                                 STATES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Dreier) laid before the House the 
following message from the President of the United States; which was 
read and, together with the accompanying papers, without objection, 
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered printed.

To the Congress of the United States:
  I am pleased to transmit herewith for your immediate consideration 
and enactment legislation to provide a waiver from certain provisions 
relating to the appointment of the United States Trade Representative.
  This draft bill would authorize the President, acting by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint Charlene Barshefsky as the 
United States Trade Representative, notwithstanding any limitations 
imposed by certain provisions of law. The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995 amended the provisions of the Trade Act of 1974 regarding the 
appointment of the United States Trade Representative and the Deputy 
United States Trade Representatives by imposing certain limitations on 
their appointment. These limitations only became effective with respect 
to the appointment of the United States Trade Representative and Deputy 
United States Trade Representatives on January 1, 1996, and do not 
apply to individuals who were serving in one of those positions on that 
date and continue to serve in them. Because Charlene Barshefsky was 
appointed Deputy United States Trade Representative on May 28, 1993, 
and has continued to serve in that position since then, the limitations 
in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, which became effective on January 1, 
1996, do not apply to her in her capacity as Deputy United States Trade 
Representative and it is appropriate that they not apply to her if she 
is appointed to be the United States Trade Representative.
  I have today nominated Charlene Barshefsky to be the next United 
States Trade Representative. She has done an outstanding job as Deputy 
United States Trade Representative

[[Page H35]]

since 1993 and as Acting United States Trade Representative for the 
last 9 months. I am confident she will make an excellent United States 
Trade Representative. I urge the Congress to take prompt and favorable 
action on this legislation.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, January 7, 1997.

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