Brady Says MTB May Have to Wait for COVID Relief Passage
The top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee said he “would really like to see” the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill move quickly, but the time and attention needed to pass COVID-19 relief measures may get in the way. “I don’t know how much oxygen the COVID stimulus bill will suck up in Congress,” Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said Jan. 28.
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Brady said MTB should not be tied to the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program because the expiration date for both has passed. A lot of work has been done to prepare the MTB legislation, but a few Democrats wanted to remove broad provisions in the MTB, he said. “That threw up a red flag” that it could be a climb to get it done. “But I still think at the end of the day will have strong bipartisan support,” Brady said in a phone call with reporters.
On GSP, Brady said it isn't reasonable to propose major changes in eligibility for a six-month extension. He would prefer Congress restart GSP as it is while members discuss revisions. “I want to have those conversations on reforms for GSP, but we also need to have a meaningful length for the program,” he said.