[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. MURRAY:
  S. 788. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain materials 
used in the manufacture of skis and snowboards; to the Committee on 
Finance.


                      duty suspension legislation

 Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I introduce legislation of 
importance to the economy and quality of life in my home State of 
Washington. The measure I am introducing will help maintain the 
competitiveness of an industry that makes vital contributions to our 
State and this Nation.
  One of my top priorities here in the U.S. Senate is to support 
policies that promote economic growth for people in Washington State 
and across the country. To me, this means preserving current jobs and 
creating new jobs in all sectors of our economy.
  The K2 Corp., located on Vashon Island in Washington State, makes an 
important contribution toward achieving this goal. As the last 
remaining major U.S. manufacturer of skis and just one of three major 
snowboard makers in this country, K2 employs more than 700 people at 
its Vashon Island facility. The products made by K2 represent a 
substantial percentage of the American skis and snowboards sold around 
the world. Maintaining the competitiveness of K2 helps ensure the 
United States remains a player in the global ski market.
  To the extent possible, K2 purchases materials used in the 
manufacture of skis and snowboards from companies based in Washington 
State and other regions of our country. However, K2 is unable to find a 
domestic source that meets its requirements for two key raw materials--
steel edges and polyethylene base material. As a result, K2 must 
purchase these two commodities abroad and pay customs duties on the 
imported products. This forces K2 to spend more for these materials, 
thus diverting resources that could be used to expand business and 
develop new technologies.
  My legislation seeks to make these resources available to K2 
suspending U.S. customs duty on imports of these two raw materials--
steel edges and polyethylene base material. It helps ensure K2 and 
America continue to have a role in the international ski industry. 
Together, these materials comprise a very small portion of all the 
materials used to produce skis. However, without the ability to acquire 
them at a reasonable cost, K2's ability to compete on an international 
scale would be adversely affected.
  K2 strives to continue as a key player in the increasingly 
competitive international ski and snowboard market. This duty 
suspension legislation will help enable K2 to compete and to continue 
supporting our Nation's economy. I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation, which strengthens the U.S. ski and snowboard industry and 
supports American jobs.
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