[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S6701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRADE FACILITATION AND SECURITY

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and Mr. Baucus, I 
ask unanimous consent the following statement be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            Customs Revenue Functions and Homeland Security

       Mr. President, On May 15, 2003, Treasury Secretary Snow 
     signed Treasury Department order No. 100-15, which delegates 
     authority related to certain revenue functions of the Bureau 
     of Customs and Border Protection from the Department of 
     Treasury to the Department of Homeland Security.
       The Treasury order identifies a number of essentially 
     commercial Customs functions over which the Secretary of the 
     Treasury will continue to exercise sole authority to approve 
     regulations, including import quotas, classification and 
     valuation of imports under the U.S. Harmonized Tariff 
     Schedules, eligibility for trade preference programs, marking 
     and labeling regulations, and copyright and trademark 
     enforcement. Authority to approve other regulations will now 
     fall under the authority of the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security.
       The Customs Bureau serves two vital functions. One function 
     is to protect our borders by making sure the goods that enter 
     our country and the vehicles that carry them do not present a 
     threat to the security of our nation. Customs also plays an 
     equally critical role in supporting our country's economic 
     security. By facilitating the movement of critical goods to 
     American industry and its customers at home and abroad, 
     Customs assures our continued economic growth and vitality. 
     We are pleased that the Administration has worked with us to 
     craft a division of responsibilities between Homeland 
     Security and Treasury that recognizes the importance of both 
     these functions.
       The new Treasury order is intended to strike a balance 
     between trade facilitation and security, but there remain 
     concerns that the scope of authority remaining at Treasury 
     may be too narrow. Over time and with experience, we may 
     conclude that the balance requires further adjustment. The 
     Treasury order calls for a review in twelve months. Two 
     months prior to expiration, the Administration is required to 
     consult closely with Congress on the upcoming review, and 
     discuss where further adjustments to the division of 
     authorities are warranted.
       We look forward to our continued work with the 
     Administration as the new division of authorities takes 
     effect. The Finance Committee remains committed to the goal 
     of assuring that Customs and our nation can advance the twin 
     goals of enhancing homeland security and promoting economic 
     growth.

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