House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Oberstar (D) has issued a statement expessing support for the President’s transportation investment proposal and expressed a desire to work with the President and DOT Secretary to develop the proposal and move it through Congress. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/09/10 news, 10090926, for BP summary on the President's proposal.)
Since coffee bean prices hit a 12-year high in August 2010, Senator Schumer (D) is urging the Obama administration to press the world’s leading coffee exporters like Brazil and Vietnam to abandon any stockpiling plans that could drive prices even higher. Schumer is sending a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk urging him to confront this proposed stockpiling at September’s meeting of the International Coffee Organization (ICO).
On July 20, 2010, Representative Larsen (D) introduced the Small Manufacturers Export Initiative Act (H.R. 5797), a bill to expand export promotion activities with respect to small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the U.S., and for other purposes.
On July 30, 2010, Representative Lowey (D) introduced the Guaranteeing Airport Physical Screening Standards Act (H.R. 6047), a bill to improve airport screening and security.
Senator Schumer (D) has issued a press release regarding reports that have shown that some Chinese growers are mislabeling their products as ‘organic.’ Senator Schumer calls on the Department of Agriculture to more aggressively act to halt the practice. According to the press release, an internal audit released by USDA in March revealed serious oversight gaps in the organic certification program. In the report, the Inspector General recommended that USDA strengthen oversight of foreign certifying agents. Schumer states that the USDA has made efforts to improve oversight of the organic program but more needs to be done to enhance scrutiny of foreign products specifically.
On August 25, 2010, the Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Secretary of State Clinton and U.S. Trade Representative Kirk expressing support for legislation to create Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In light of the recent floods in Pakistan, the Chamber urges Congressional approval of such legislation on an urgent basis.
On August 31, 2010, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Levin (D) issued a statement following an announcement by the Commerce Department regarding countervailing duty petitions filed by U.S. companies and workers. Levin notes that while Commerce found that the petitions failed to allege facts sufficient to initiate an investigation on whether China’s currency manipulation is a countervailable subsidy, it did not find that currency manipulation cannot be addressed as a countervailable subsidy. Levin states that this and other courses of action will be reviewed at the Ways and Means Committee's September 15 hearing on China’s exchange rate policy. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 07/30/10 news, 10073009, for BP summary announcing this hearing.)
Congressman Michaud (D), Chairman of the House Trade Working Group, issued a statement criticizing the Commerce Department’s announcement of its decision not to investigate China’s currency manipulation as a countervailable subsidy in petitions filed by U.S. paper companies. Michaud states that since the White House has refused to take action to level the playing field with China, it is absolutely imperative that Congress do so as soon as it returns.
On August 19, 2010, Representatives Kirk (R) and Klein (D) sent a letter to the President asking him to enforce the recently enacted Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010. In their letter, the Representatives express concern about firms, like Russia’s LUKOIL, who reportedly continue to supply Iran with refined petroleum products. The letter asks the President to enforce CISADA and hold companies like LUKOIL accountable without delay.
The Government Accountability Office has issued a report entitled “Formaldehyde in Textiles: While Levels in Clothing Generally Appear to Be Low, Allergic Contact Dermatitis Is a Health Issue for Some People.”