[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 45 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 27--URGING THE PRESIDENT TO REQUEST THE 
 UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS 
 WITH RESPECT TO THE TEMPORARY SAFEGUARDS ON IMPORTS OF CERTAIN STEEL 
                    PRODUCTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. BOND (for himself, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Hagel, and Mr. Fitzgerald) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Finance:

                            S. Con. Res. 27

       Whereas, on March 5, 2002, the President, upon 
     investigation and recommendation by the United States 
     International Trade Commission, proclaimed temporary tariff 
     increases and tariff-rate quotas on certain steel imports;
       Whereas neither the President nor the United States 
     International Trade Commission could have fully anticipated 
     the positive or negative effects of the temporary safeguards 
     proclaimed on March 5, 2002;
       Whereas steel-consuming manufacturers and fabricators 
     across the United States have reported that the safeguard 
     tariffs and tariff-rate quotas have contributed to 
     substantial price increases, disrupted the availability of 
     input steel, and negatively impacted the ability of the 
     manufacturers and fabricators to compete in the global 
     marketplace;
       Whereas ports of entry across the United States have 
     experienced losses of revenue as a result of the tariff 
     increases and the tariff-rate quotas;
       Whereas both a strong domestic steel industry and a strong 
     domestic manufacturing base are vital to our national defense 
     and economic security; and
       Whereas section 204 of the Trade Act of 1974 requires that 
     the United States International Trade Commission ``shall 
     monitor developments with respect to the domestic industry, 
     including the progress and specific efforts made by workers 
     and firms in the domestic industry to make a positive 
     adjustment to import competition''; and
       Whereas the United States International Trade Commission is 
     required to submit a report on this monitoring to the 
     President and Congress not later than September 20, 2003: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes that a strong domestic steel industry and a 
     strong domestic manufacturing base are vital to national 
     defense and economic security; and
       (2) urges the President to request the United States 
     International Trade Commission, in addition to fulfilling the 
     monitoring and reporting requirements under section 204 of 
     the Trade Act of 1974, to monitor and report on the impact 
     that temporary tariff increases and tariff-rate quotas on 
     certain steel imports have had on steel-consuming industries 
     and ports of entry in the United States.

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