[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6444-S6445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MISCELLANEOUS TRADE AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 1999

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 17, H.R. 435.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.

[[Page S6445]]

  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 435) to make miscellaneous and technical 
     changes to various trade laws, and for other purposes.
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.


                           Amendment No. 481

              (Purpose: To provide a substitute amendment)

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, Senator Roth has a substitute amendment at 
the desk. I ask for its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Maine [Ms. Snowe], for Mr. Roth, proposes 
     an amendment numbered 481.

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under 
``Amendments Submitted.'')
  Ms. SNOWE. I ask unanimous consent the amendment be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 481) was agreed to.
  Ms. SNOWE. I ask unanimous consent the bill be considered read a 
third time and passed as amended, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements relating to the bill appear in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 435), as amended, was considered read a third time and 
passed.
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, the Senate today passed the Miscellaneous 
Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1999. This bill, which my friend 
Senator Moynihan cosponsored, is similar to legislation that the 
Committee on Finance had reported out last year.
  This legislation consists of over 150 provisions temporarily 
suspending or reducing the applicable tariffs on a wide variety of 
products, including chemicals used to make anti-HIV, anti-AIDS and 
anticancer drugs, pigments, paints, herbicides and insecticides, 
certain machinery used in the production of textiles, and rocket 
engines.
  In each instance, there was either no domestic production of the 
product in question or the domestic producers supported the measure. By 
suspending or reducing the duties, we can enable American firms that 
use these products to produce goods in a more cost efficient manner, 
thereby helping create jobs for American workers and reducing costs for 
consumers.
  The bill also contains a number of technical corrections and other 
minor modifications to the trade laws that enjoy broad support. One 
such measure would help facilitate Customs Service clearance of 
athletes that participate in world athletic events, such as the 
upcoming Women's World Cup. Another measure corrects certain outdated 
references in the trade laws.
  For each of the provisions included in this bill, the House and 
Senate solicited comments from the public and from the administration 
to ensure that there was no controversy or opposition. Only those 
measures that were noncontroversial were included in the bill.
  I thank my colleagues, particularly Senator Moynihan, for helping 
move this legislation. I am delighted that we were able to pass these 
commonsense measures that will provide real benefits for the American 
people.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN, Mr. President, my great thanks to the Chairman of the 
Finance Committee for his efforts in bringing this legislation, the 
Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1999, to a 
successful conclusion. The technical work on this bill began 15 months 
ago, culminating in the Finance Committee's approval of the package 
last September. For reasons unrelated to the substance of the bill, the 
Senate was unable to complete work on the measure last year.
  The Chairman made this the first order of business for the Finance 
Committee in the 106th Congress, and, accordingly, the Committee 
ordered this package of temporary duty suspensions and Customs 
provisions reported on January 21, 1999. Of particular importance to 
New Yorkers, the bill will authorize the United States Customs Service 
to station inspectors in a number of Canadian airports, to ``preclear'' 
passengers in advance of their arrival in New York, thus helping to 
reduce congestion at JFK International Airport. Passengers cleared in 
Canada can be routed through LaGuardia, where no further Customs 
formalities will be required. Passengers on flights routed through JFK 
will face shorter Customs processing times since many of the flights 
that would otherwise be routed through JFK will instead be directed to 
LaGuardia. Arriving in New York should become just a little easier.
  The bill also suspends the duties on the personal effects of athletes 
participating in the Women's World Cup soccer games, their coaches and 
their families. The games will begin June 19, 1999. In addition, H.R. 
435 reduces the tariffs that New York companies must pay on certain 
imported components not produced in the United States, such as high-
purity glass and a number of synthetic organic chemicals used to 
manufacture rubber products, produce aircraft coatings, and inhibit 
corrosion on rail cars.
  The Senate has now given its unanimous consent and the measure will 
return to the House for final approval. It is my hope that the House 
will take up the matter as soon as it returns from the Memorial Day 
recess.

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