Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and Ranking Member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., plan to introduce bipartisan legislation to improve air and maritime port security, after a Department of Homeland Security inspector general report found the Transportation Security Administration doesn’t have an adequate security strategy, a committee spokesperson said. “While TSA’s role at airports is most visible, and remains critically important, the agency has a responsibility to stay ahead of threats and secure all U.S. transportation systems,” Thune said in a statement (here). “To help ensure that complacency and a lack of analysis described by the inspector general does not create vulnerabilities for terrorists to exploit, the Commerce Committee will soon introduce bipartisan legislation to improve how TSA assesses and responds to security risks.”

The House Financial Services Committee on Sept. 13 approved a bill that would repeal the requirement for specialized public companies to disclose information about sources and supply chains of conflict minerals to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Financial CHOICE Act of 2016 now goes to the full House for consideration. In a summary of the bill (here), the committee says federal officials are using securities laws as a “cudgel” to prod companies to address “extraneous” political, social and environmental matters in periodic filings. SEC’s rule, required through the 2011 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, requires companies to file a Form SD if they manufacture or contract to have manufactured products that contain conflict minerals necessary to the functionality or production of those products and, as applicable, file a conflict minerals report. Firms that report their products as “DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] Conflict Free” are also required to include documentation of independent audits in their SEC disclosures.

The Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 by a vote of 95-3 on Sept. 15. The bill would define a “deep-draft harbor” as a harbor approved to be built to a depth of more than 50 feet, as opposed to the current 45 feet, and updates the federal-private cost-share formula for harbor navigation projects to align with that. Under the WRDA, “non-federal interests” would be responsible for 25 percent of construction costs performed at depths between 20 and 50 feet, and for 50 percent of project costs associated with work at depths exceeding 50 feet, according to the Environment and Public Works Committee report of the bill (here). The legislation also would extend the authority of the Army Corps of Engineers to finance ports that provide the most funds for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, as well as energy transfer ports. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) applauded the Senate’s approval in a statement (here) and said the bill's provisions would “streamline and expedite” current port projects.

Lawmakers recently introduced the following trade-related bills:

The House Ways and Means Committee on Sept. 14 by unanimous voice vote reported the Prevent Trafficking in Cultural Property Act to the full House for consideration. The bill would require CBP and ICE to designate a “principal coordinator” or form a group to institute, coordinate and renew the agencies’ procedures regarding illegally imported cultural property (here). The bill also instructs CBP and ICE to update and develop rules, regulations and memoranda of understanding to “reflect changes in cultural property law,” to highlight and provide support for investigations and prosecutions of people involved in illegal importation of cultural goods, and to foster communication and collaboration between peer CBP and ICE offices as they work together on investigations. The legislation also directs CBP and ICE to train employees on cultural property law, identification of cultural property from regions particularly exposed to looting and trafficking, and proper investigatory and interdictory techniques.

Cuba Democracy Advocates Executive Director Mauricio Claver-Carone on Sept. 14 agreed to help Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., move forward his bill proposing credit financing for U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba, working to ensure that it wouldn’t directly benefit the Castro administration or weaken democracy in the island nation. Arguments abounded both in support of and in opposition to opening up U.S. financing to promote exports to Cuba during a full House Agriculture Committee meeting that same day. One key member, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson, said the potential benefits of a bill to finance exports to Cuba would be limited for the short term at least, highlighting that Cuba is a small country that houses citizens who earn low incomes, and that embassies constitute much of the demand driving agricultural imports to the island, as opposed to the Cuban people at large.

The House Agriculture Committee on Sept. 14 will convene a hearing on U.S. agricultural trade with Cuba, the committee announced (here). House lawmakers previously announced plans to convene a hearing this month, while advocacy group Engage Cuba was pushing for a vote on any agricultural crediting legislation by the end of 2016 (see 1608050001).

Major clothing, footwear and retail companies and trade groups are jointly urging Congress to support Trans-Pacific Partnership implementing legislation later this year, the American Apparel and Footwear Association said in a news release (here). The coalition sent letters to each member of Congress in support of the TPP (here). "For the U.S. footwear, apparel, and travel goods industry – which still face high tariffs and other non-tariff trade barriers across TPP countries – the TPP represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reduce costs and open new markets for U.S. brands and retailers," the letter said. The alliance includes Macy's, Target, the National Retail Federation, the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers & Forwarders Associations and the U.S. Fashion Industry Association, among others. "On behalf of our customers, our workers, our partners, and our suppliers – all of whom stand to benefit from the TPP – we urge you to vote yes and support a vote on the TPP implementing legislation this year," the group said. The Obama administration would like to see a TPP vote in Congress in coming months, but there's persistent skepticism as to whether the implementing legislation would be approved (see 1609090013).

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has no plans to bring up the Trans-Pacific Partnership during the lame-duck session after the November election, he told reporters Sept. 8. “We don’t have the votes right now,” Ryan said. “So it’s not something that I’m thinking about because I know the votes on this issue very well from doing TPA [Trade Promotion Authority] and we don’t have the votes. And quite frankly, I think they have to fix it.” President Barack Obama told reporters earlier this month he believes TPP eventually will be ratified. “Back home, we'll have to cut through the noise once election season is over,” Obama said, speaking in Asia following the G-20 Summit. “It's always a little noisy there.” Vice President Joe Biden, speaking on CNN earlier this week, also said the administration will seek a congressional vote on TPP during the lame-duck session. “There’s going to be some additional changes that have to take place,” Biden added. Both Republican and Democratic presidential nominees have questioned the merits of the trade deal. Ryan will meet with his caucus Friday to discuss the strategy on government funding, which expires Sept. 30 and requires a continuing resolution for funding going forward. Senate Republicans said they're aiming for Dec. 9 as the target expiration date for a short-term CR.

Lawmakers recently introduced the following trade-related bills: