[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1126]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 111-1

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following 
treaty transmitted to the Senate on January 15, 2009, by President 
Bush: Tax Convention with Malta, Treaty Document No. 111-1. I further 
ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the first time; 
that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the President's 
message be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  I transmit herewith, for Senate advice and consent to ratification, 
the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America 
and the Government of Malta for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and 
the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion With Respect to Taxes on Income, 
signed on August 8, 2008, at Valletta (the ``proposed Convention''). I 
also transmit for the information of the Senate the report of the 
Department of State, which includes an Overview of the proposed 
Convention.
  The proposed Convention provides for reduced withholding rates on 
cross-border payments of dividends, interest, royalties, and other 
income. The proposed Convention contains a restrictive provision 
designed to prevent ``treaty shopping,'' which is the inappropriate use 
of a tax treaty by third-country residents. The proposed Convention 
also provides for the exchange of information between the competent 
authorities to facilitate the administration of each country's tax 
laws.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the proposed Convention and give its advice and consent to 
ratification.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, January 15, 2009.

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