Daily Update on Capitol Hill Actions

Hearing on Role of Export Promotion in Stimulating the Economy

On March 17, 2009, a hearing on "Stimulating the Economy through Trade: Examining the Role of Export Promotion" was held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

According to Subcommittee Chairman Rush, the hearing explored international trade as a tool to stimulate the U.S. economy and examined the role of exports in the growth of the U.S economy. The hearing also reviewed the impact of government-sponsored export promotion programs, and the effectiveness of assistance available to help U.S. businesses expand their markets for U.S products and services.

Hearing on Appliance Standards Improvement Act

On March 19, 2009, a hearing on the Appliance Standards Improvement Act of 2009 (S. 598) was held by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. According to its sponsor, S. 598 would expand the standards program and make several operational improvements, including establishing federal standards for table and floor lamps.

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Bill to Reduce Tariffs on Imported Ethanol

On March 18, 2009, a press release was issued by Senator Feinstein which announced that she and five co-sponsors (Senators Gregg (R), Bingaman (D), Collins (R), Cantwell (D) and Martinez (R)) introduced a bill (S. 622) to reduce the tariffs on imported ethanol to enable U.S. refiners to purchase cheaper and more environmentally-friendly ethanol from foreign sources.

According to a press release from Senator Feinstein, the 2008 Farm Bill lowered the ethanol blender subsidy from 51 cents to 45 cents per gallon and left in place two tariffs on imported ethanol. The press release states that this created a barrier to trade on foreign ethanol imports, ranging between 11-13 cents per gallon, depending on the wholesale price of ethanol on a given day. This means that gasoline imports are favored over ethanol imports.

DHS DAS Testimony on Biometric Identification

The Department of Homeland Security has posted the testimony of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Kathleen Kraninger, Screening Coordination, and Director Robert A. Mocny, US-VISIT, National Protection and Programs Directorate, before the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Homeland Security hearing on "Biometric Identification."

CBO Preliminary Analysis of the President's FY 2010 Budget

The Congressional Budget Office has posted a preliminary analysis of the President's FY 2010 budget which contains CBO's latest projections for the budget and economic outlook, updating the projections published in early January 2009. CBO will review the complete plan after the Administration submits it to the Congress later this spring.

Congressional Letter to President on Greece's Participation in VWP

On March 18, 2009, Congressman Wexler (FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe and a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, issued a press release announcing that he along with certain other members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging the Obama Administration to support Greece's application to participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Greece, a longstanding North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally of the United States, has met the formal criteria for participation in the Visa Waiver Program.

Trade-Related Bills Introduced on March 19, 2009

On March 19, 2009, the following trade-related bills were introduced:

If it is determined that any of the above Congressional actions, hearings, or bills warrant more in-depth coverage, such information will be provided separately in a future issue of International Trade Today.