[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H12146-H12147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     EXPORT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3381) to reauthorize the Overseas Private Investment 
Corporation and the Trade and Development Agency, and for other 
purposes.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to consideration of the 
motion at this time?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3381

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Export Enhancement Act of 
     1999''.

     SEC. 2. OPIC ISSUING AUTHORITY.

       Section 235(a)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2195(a)(3)) is amended by striking ``1999'' and 
     inserting ``2003''.

     SEC. 3. IMPACT OF OPIC PROGRAMS.

       (a) Additional Requirements.--Section 231A of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2191a) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);
       (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(b) Environmental Impact.--The Board of Directors of the 
     Corporation shall not vote in favor of any action proposed to 
     be taken by the Corporation that is likely to have 
     significant adverse environmental impacts that are sensitive, 
     diverse, or unprecedented, unless for at least 60 days before 
     the date of the vote--
       ``(1) an environmental impact assessment or initial 
     environmental audit, analyzing the environmental impacts of 
     the proposed action and of alternatives to the proposed 
     action has been completed by the project applicant and made 
     available to the Board of Directors; and
       ``(2) such assessment or audit has been made available to 
     the public of the United States, locally affected groups in 
     the host country, and host country nongovernmental 
     organizations.''; and
       (3) in subsection (c), as so redesignated--
       (A) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Board'; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) In conjunction with each meeting of its Board of 
     Directors, the Corporation shall hold a public hearing in 
     order to afford an opportunity for any person to present 
     views regarding the activities of the Corporation. Such views 
     shall be made part of the record.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF OPIC.

       Section 233(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2193(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking the second and third sentences;
       (2) in the fourth sentence by striking ``(other than the 
     President of the Corporation, appointed pursuant to 
     subsection (c) who shall serve as a Director, ex officio)'';
       (3) in the second undesignated paragraph--
       (A) by inserting ``the President of the Corporation, the 
     Administrator of the Agency for International Development, 
     the United States Trade Representative, and'' after 
     ``including''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following: ``The United States 
     Trade Representative may designate a Deputy United States 
     Trade Representative to serve on the Board in place of the 
     United States Trade Representative.''; and
       (4) by inserting after the second undesignated paragraph 
     the following:
       ``There shall be a Chairman and a Vice Chairman of the 
     Board, both of whom shall be designated by the President of 
     the United States from among the Directors of the Board other 
     than those appointed under the second sentence of the first 
     paragraph of this subsection.''.

     SEC. 5. TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

       (a) Purpose.--Section 661(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act 
     of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2421(a)) is amended by inserting before 
     the period at the end of the second sentence the following: 
     ``, with special emphasis on economic sectors with 
     significant United States export potential, such as energy, 
     transportation, telecommunications, and environment''.
       (b) Contributions of Costs.--Section 661(b) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2421(b)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Contributions to costs.--The Trade and Development 
     Agency shall, to the maximum extent practicable, require 
     corporations and other entities to--
       ``(A) share the costs of feasibility studies and other 
     project planning services funded under this section; and
       ``(B) reimburse the Trade and Development Agency those 
     funds provided under this section, if the corporation or 
     entity concerned succeeds in project implementation.''.
       (c) Funding.--Section 661(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act 
     of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2421(f)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(A) by striking ``$77,000,000'' and all 
     that follows through ``1996'' and inserting ``$48,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2000 and such sums as may be necessary for each 
     fiscal year thereafter''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``in fiscal years'' 
     and all that follows through ``provides'' and inserting ``in 
     carrying out its program, provide, as appropriate, funds''.

     SEC. 6. IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF TPCC.

       The Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee shall--
       (1) report on the actions taken or efforts currently 
     underway to eliminate the areas of overlap and duplication 
     identified among Federal export promotion activities;
       (2) coordinate efforts to sponsor or promote any trade show 
     or trade fair;
       (3) work with all relevant State and national 
     organizations, including the National Governors' Association, 
     that have established trade promotion offices;
       (4) report on actions taken or efforts currently underway 
     to promote better coordination between State, Federal, and 
     private sector export promotion activities, including co-
     location, cost sharing between Federal, State, and private 
     sector export promotion programs, and sharing of market 
     research data; and
       (5) by not later than March 30, 2000, and annually 
     thereafter, include the matters addressed in paragraphs (1), 
     (2), (3), and (4) in the annual report required to be 
     submitted under section 2312(f) of the Export Enhancement Act 
     of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727(f)).

     SEC. 7. TIMING OF TPCC REPORTS.

       Section 2312(f) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 
     U.S.C. 4727(f)) is amended by striking ``September 30, 1995, 
     and annually thereafter,'' and inserting ``March 30 of each 
     year,''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.R. 3381.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H12147]]

  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support of the Export 
Enhancement Act of 1999. This measure before us today provides a 4-year 
authorization of OPIC, an authorization of the Trade and Development 
Agency and several provisions enhancing the effectiveness of the Trade 
Promotion Coordinating Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, this measure is a stripped-down version of H.R. 1993, 
which passed the House on October 13 by an overwhelming margin of 357 
to 71. This bill enjoys full bipartisan support. It is identical to the 
text of a measure the Senate is ready to consider in the very near 
future.
  Passing this measure today will ensure that the Overseas Private 
Investment Corporation will get the authorities it needs to play a key 
role in boosting our Nation's competitiveness and export potential.
  I urge its prompt adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this measure 
to reauthorize the OPIC and the U.S. Trade Development Agency.
  Basically, there is a version that has already passed the House 357-
71, but to expedite it in the Senate, we are pursuing it in this 
fashion.
  Export promotion programs, like OPIC and TDA, provide crucial support 
for American businesses in the global marketplace. U.S. exports of 
goods and services are estimated to support more than 12 million 
domestic jobs. Each $1 billion in U.S. goods and services supports 
approximately 13,000 jobs. This is a reality in my home State of New 
Jersey, as well as throughout the country.
  OPIC has had a positive net income for every year of operation, which 
reserves now total more than $3 billion. Last year it earned a profit 
of $139 million and contributes over $204 million in net negative 
budget authority.
  So at a time when Congress is striving to adhere to the constraints 
of a balanced budget, OPIC stands a part of a revenue earning program. 
It also complements our efforts across the globe to open up markets.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) and 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo), my colleague, for his 
efforts to work with our office to achieve an agreement that ensures 
OPIC will continue to provide services to American investors overseas.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from New York (Chairman Gilman), 
the distinguished chairman of the committee, for his commitment to work 
with myself and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) on an 
International Trade Administration reauthorization bill at the 
beginning of the next session of the 106th Congress. I hope that we can 
build on the bill that we develop in this session and pass an ITA 
reauthorization bill as early as possible next year.
  I urge Members to support passage of the legislation.
  Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Export 
Enhancement Act. For the benefit of my colleagues, let me provide some 
background to where we are today.
  H.R. 3381 is a bipartisan and bicameral work-product. Both Members 
and staff from both sides of the aisle and both sides of Capitol Hill 
worked on this together in order to get this bill to the President as 
quickly as possible. The temporary reauthorization extension for the 
Overseas Private Investment Corporation expires today. It's time to 
finally get this legislation to the President.
  The House version of H.R. 1993 is subject to a hold in the other body 
for reasons that have nothing to do with the substance of the 
legislation. Passage of H.R. 3381 now by the House is one way to seek 
quick action on a four year authorization for OPIC in case the House 
adjourns for the year prior to the Senate.
  There are some changes. The most important are provisions dealing 
with the International Trade Administration were removed because of 
jurisdictional concerns with the Senate Banking Committee.
  But it is important to remember what the new bill retains--four year 
OPIC reauthorization; success fee language on the Trade and Development 
Agency; and streamlining the efforts of the 19 federal agencies 
involved in export promotion. All of these provisions will help America 
increase U.S. exports and eliminate government waste. I urge my 
colleagues to support H.R. 3381.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3381.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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