[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 184 (Thursday, December 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 644, TRADE FACILITATION AND TRADE ENFORCEMENT 
                              ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. SUZANNE BONAMICI

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 11, 2015

  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 644, the Trade 
Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act. This bill is an improvement on 
the previous version that I opposed in June.
  For the past several years I have had many conversations with the 
people of Northwest Oregon about growing jobs and increasing exports. 
I've heard from workers, business owners, environmentalists, and others 
about the importance of enforcing and strengthening our existing trade 
laws and agreements. Strong trade facilitation and enforcement will 
keep other nations accountable for the labor and environmental 
standards we set and give the United States the ability to take swift 
action against those who seek to engage in unscrupulous trade 
practices.
  The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act earned my support 
because it includes provisions that are important for my constituents 
and for employers in Oregon, and because it provides resources and 
tools to take action against trade cheats.
  This bill incorporates the ENFORCE Act to require quick action on 
allegations of evasion of duties, dumping, and improper subsidies. A 
special enforcement fund would provide up to $30 million each year 
dedicated to enforcing trade agreements and making sure trading 
partners meet their commitments.
  It permanently establishes the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center 
to pursue across-agency enforcement of domestic trade rights and trade 
laws. There are also strong provisions to put an end to importation of 
products made by child and forced labor.
  Oregon receives funding through the State Trade and Export Promotion 
(STEP) grant program to help small businesses find new markets for 
their products and boost job growth. This legislation reauthorizes STEP 
through 2020 and increases its funding to expand small business 
exports.
  The Pacific Northwest is known for its great outdoors and 
recreational opportunities in the mountains, forests, beaches, rivers, 
and on the coast. Recreational outerwear businesses thrive in our 
region, marketing outerwear and active wear to sporting enthusiasts 
around the world. This legislation includes provisions that will make 
these products more competitive and reverse a scheduled increase in 
tariffs for small and medium-sized outdoor industry businesses.
  Mr. Speaker, as I said at the outset, this is not a perfect bill, but 
it is a bipartisan compromise. On the heels of the historic Paris 
Climate Agreement, our nation will continue to lead the world in 
addressing climate change; the language in this legislation will not 
change that.
  The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act is a step forward 
and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to ensure 
that our nation has strong enforcement mechanisms to ensure our 
employers and workers can compete on a level playing field in the 
global economy.

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