[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12391-S12392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE RECIPROCAL TRADE AGREEMENT ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                       MURRAY AMENDMENT NO. 1622

  (Ordered to lie on the table.)
  Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to 
the bill. S. 1269, supra; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC.   . CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT GROUPS.

       (a) Appointment and Functions.--Not later than 30 days 
     after the date on which the President provides notice under 
     section 4(a)(1) of the President's intention to enter into 
     negotiations with respect to a trade agreement--
       (1) the Speaker of the House of Representatives, upon the 
     recommendation of the chairman of the Committee on Ways and 
     Means, shall appoint 5 members (not more than 3 of whom are 
     members of the same political party) of such committee, and
       (2) the President pro tempore of the Senate, upon the 
     recommendation of the chairman of the Committee on Finance, 
     shall appoint 5 members (not more than 3 of whom are members 
     of the same political party) of such committee,

     to serve as members of a Congressional Oversight Group for 
     the negotiations. Each such member shall be accredited by the 
     United States Trade Representative on behalf of the President 
     as official advisers to the United States delegation in the 
     negotiations. Members of the Congressional Oversight Group 
     shall consult with and provide advice to the Trade 
     Representative regarding the formulation of specific 
     objectives, negotiating strategies and positions, and the 
     development of the trade agreement.
       (b) Additional Members.--
       (1) Authority to appoint.--In addition to the members 
     designated under subsection (a) for a Congressional Oversight 
     Group--
       (A) the Speaker of the House of Representatives may appoint 
     additional members of

[[Page S12392]]

     the House from any other committee of the House or joint 
     committee of Congress to serve as members of the 
     Congressional Oversight Group; and
       (B) the President pro tempore of the Senate may appoint 
     additional members of the Senate from any other committee of 
     the Senate or joint committee of Congress to serve as members 
     of the Congressional Oversight Group.

     Members of the House and Senate appointed under this 
     paragraph shall be accredited by the United States Trade 
     Representative.
       (2) Consultations.--Before designating any member under 
     paragraph (1), the Speaker or the President pro tempore shall 
     consult with--
       (A) the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
     Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Finance, as 
     appropriate; and
       (B) the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
     committee from which the member will be appointed.
       (3) Affiliation.--Not more than 2 members may be appointed 
     under this subsection as members of any Congressional 
     Oversight Group from any 1 committee of Congress. If 2 
     members are appointed from 1 committee, they must be from 
     different political parties, and the total members from any 
     political party appointed under this subsection for any 
     Congressional Oversight Group may not exceed the total number 
     of members from any other political party.
       (c) Guidelines.--
       (1) Purpose and revision.--Within 120 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the United States Trade 
     Representative shall develop written guidelines, in 
     consultation with the chairmen and ranking minority members 
     of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, 
     to facilitate the useful and timely exchange of information 
     between the Trade Representative and the Congressional 
     Oversight Groups established under this section. The Trade 
     Representative may revise the guidelines from time to time as 
     needed following further such consultation.
       (2) Content.--The guidelines developed under paragraph (1) 
     shall provide for, among other things--
       (A) regular, detailed briefings of each Congressional 
     Oversight Group regarding negotiating objectives and 
     positions and status of the negotiations with respect to 
     which the group was appointed, beginning as soon as 
     practicable after the appointment of the members of the 
     group, with more frequent briefings as trade negotiations 
     enter the final stage;
       (B) access by members of each Congressional Oversight 
     Group, and staff with proper security clearances, to 
     pertinent documents relating to the negotiations, including 
     classified materials; and
       (C) the closet practicable coordination between the Trade 
     Representative and each Congressional Oversight Group at all 
     critical periods during the negotiations, including at 
     negotiation sites.
       On page 34, lines 1 and 2, strike ``the congressional 
     advisers on trade policy and negotiations appointed under 
     section 161 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2211),'' and 
     insert ``the Congressional Oversight Group appointed under 
     this Act,''.

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