[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3869-S3870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. This morning, the Senate will conduct a period of morning 
business until 10:45 a.m. We may make some adjustments to that because 
we want a full hour of morning business. There will be some leader time 
used by myself and the Democratic leader. Morning business will be for 
an hour, with the first half under the control of the Democratic leader 
and the second half under the control of the majority leader.
  Following that 1 hour of morning business, the Senate will begin 2 
hours for debate with respect to the motion to proceed to the Pregnancy 
and Trauma Care Access Protection Act of 2004.
  Following the debate, the Senate will recess until 2:15 for the 
weekly policy luncheons to occur. When the Senate reconvenes at 2:15, 
there will be a vote on invoking cloture on the motion to proceed to 
the consideration of the Pregnancy and Trauma Care Access Protection 
Act. This procedural vote will require 60 votes. Unfortunately, it 
became necessary due to objections from the other side of the aisle.
  Following that vote, the Senate will conduct a second cloture vote 
relating to the FSC/ETI, the JOBS bill. This will be the second cloture 
vote with respect to this JOBS bill, the FSC/ETI bill. I hope we will 
be successful in invoking cloture and bringing this FSC/ETI issue to 
conclusion.
  An issue we need to address this week is the pension equity 
conference report. That conference report has passed the House by a 
large margin, and it is now at the desk. We need to consider that 
measure prior to adjourning for the Easter recess. I will be talking to 
the Democratic leader after our statements this morning about reaching 
an agreement for a period of debate and a vote on the pension equity 
conference report.
  I will briefly comment on the JOBS bill, the FSC/ETI bill. The 
progrowth policies this Senate, this body has passed in 2001 and 2003 
are policies which keep more money in the hands of individuals and 
businesses and out of the grasp of Government. These policies have 
begun to pay dividends, dividends we have seen over the last several 
months, realized in the improvement in the economy and in the job

[[Page S3870]]

creation numbers, which have steadied and now begun to increase.

  The point is, we can, we should, and we will do more. Today, we have 
an opportunity to further enhance the creation of jobs which are so 
needed here at home, by taking positive action to move the JOBS bill--
that is, the Jumpstart Our Business Strength Act, the FSC/ETI bill--
through this whole maze of parliamentary obstacles that are currently 
handcuffing this bill. It is important for us to do. We absolutely must 
accomplish that this week.
  As most know, this bill brings together our trade and tax laws. It 
brings them in compliance with our trade agreements. It will also 
create tens of thousands of new jobs over the next several years. Given 
that much of the benefit of that legislation goes to U.S. manufacturing 
firms, these jobs are likely to be high-wage, high-skill jobs that are 
necessary to ensure strong economic growth.
  As many of my colleagues know, the Europeans are already imposing 
tariffs on our exports. The tariffs started last month, March 1, at 5 
percent of the $4 billion authorized. They will increase 1 percent; 
that is, $40 million, each and every month that passes. The tariffs, in 
effect, are a European tax on U.S. manufacturers, and they are 
devastating U.S. businesses.
  According to the American Forest and Paper Association, in the forest 
products industry alone, approximately 1,400 jobs are at risk due to 
these tariffs. It is time for us to act; it is causing real economic 
hardship.
  There is a company with operations in both Ohio and Wisconsin called 
Robbins Sports Surfaces. Jonathan Turner is their director of 
purchasing. He wrote an e-mail that summarizes why we need to act and 
to act now:

       The estimated average value per year for all items that the 
     EU has sanctioned has been about $300,000.00 for my company. 
     . . . Because competition is so fierce in these markets, any 
     import duty will likely cost us that business to a European 
     competitor. With the initial import duty, we cannot compete 
     effectively in Europe at this time. We need to sell our 
     products to the EU and are in favor of discontinuing this 
     duty. For 10 years we have exported to the EU and are in 
     danger of losing that market if FSC/ETI is not resolved.

  That is just one example--Jonathan Turner's words in an e-mail.
  A vote against cloture is a vote in support of this Euro tax, whether 
it is on Jonathan Turner or Robbins Sports Surfaces or thousands of 
other companies also facing these tariffs. So I do hope my colleagues 
will join me and others in voting in favor of cloture this afternoon so 
we can move forward on this important bill.

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