[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CHAFEE:
  S. 1633. A bill to suspend through December 31, 1999, the duty on 
certain textile machinery; to the Committee on Finance.


                      duty suspension legislation

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, this afternoon I am introducing 
legislation to suspend the duty on the importation of certain textile 
printing machines that are used by textile manufacturers in the United 
States.
  These particular machines are used for the printing of patterns, 
designs and motifs on fabrics--an important process in the making of 
textile goods. However, none of these machines are made in the United 
States. That means domestic manufacturers must import these machines at 
considerable cost, which does not help their ability to compete in what 
is an increasingly challenging market. Yet since there is no domestic 
industry producing these machines, the duties serve little purpose.
  The bill I am introducing would lift the duty imposed on these 
machines. It is my hope that by doing so, we will be helping the 
textile industry in this country to improve its competitiveness and 
maintain its workforce, both in Rhode Island and around the nation.
  By introducing this legislation today, I believe there should be 
ample time for review and comment on the bill, and that it can be ready 
for inclusion when Senate begins work on comprehensive duty suspension 
legislation this year.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1633

       Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the United States of America in Congress 
     assembled, that
       (a) Subchapter II of Chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff 
     Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting in 
     numerical sequence the following new heading:


 
    ``9902.81.20  Other textile      Free   No        No        On or
                   printing                  change    change    before
                   machinery                                     12/31/
                   (provided for in                              99''
                   subheading
                   8443.59.10)
 

       (b) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to 
     goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, 
     on or after the date that is 15 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (c) Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of 1930 
     or any other provision of law, upon proper request filed with 
     the Customs Service within 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, any entry, or withdrawal from 
     warehouse for consumption, of goods described in subheading 
     8443.59.10 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
     States--
       (1) which was made after December 31, 1997, and before the 
     date that is 15 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, and
       (2) with respect to which there would have been no duty if 
     the amendment made by subsection (a) applied to such entry or 
     withdrawal,

     shall be liquidated or reliquidated as if such amendment 
     applied to such entry or withdrawal.

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