[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9086]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           PASSAGE OF FSC/ETI

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I wish to comment, because I did not have 
the opportunity last night, on the FSC/ETI JOBS bill that was passed 
last night after a long time on the floor and after a number of 
amendments, an approximately equal number considered from the 
Republican and Democratic side. It is a real achievement for this body. 
It was passed, and it is critical to accelerating jobs and production 
of jobs in this country.
  The bill we passed will bring our trade and tax laws into compliance 
with our trade agreements finally. As many of my colleagues know, the 
Europeans are already imposing tariffs on our exports. That Euro tax 
started in March at 5 percent, and until we act--we have acted in the 
Senate, and now the House must act, but we must act as a Congress--
these will increase 1 percent each month if we do not act.
  I do want to mention the energy provisions that are part of this bill 
that were added on the Senate floor--too many for me to refer to now 
but provisions such as tax credits for the production of electricity 
from renewable sources, such as wind and solar. It contains tax 
incentives to promote the production and use of alternative fuels motor 
vehicles using natural gas. It includes added incentives to promote the 
use of clean coal and advanced clean coal technology. There are 
important incentives to increase the supply of natural gas, and the 
list goes on.
  The Senate has acted, and I look forward to the House passing its 
version of this legislation so that the House and Senate can go to 
conference and we can produce a conference bill without much delay and 
bring it back to the Senate.
  There is a lot going on in the Senate both on and off the floor. I 
appreciate the cooperation of my colleagues as we move America forward.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Democratic leader is 
recognized.

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