On August 5, 2010, the Senate agreed to S. Res. 411, recognizing the importance and sustainability of the U.S. hardwoods industry and urging that U.S. hardwoods and the products derived from U.S. hardwoods be given full consideration in any program to promote construction of environmentally preferable commercial, public, or private buildings, and the resolution was then agreed to.
On August 4, 2010, the Senate passed H.R. 1517, to allow certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who serve under an overseas limited appointment for at least 2 years, and whose service is rated fully successful or higher throughout that time, to be converted to a permanent appointment in the competitive service.
On August 5, 2010, the Senate amended and passed H.R. 5875, making emergency supplemental appropriations for border security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. (The House passed H.R. 5875 on July 28, 2010. The House-passed version included funding for CBP officers and infrastructure at the Southwest boarder. See ITT’s Online Archives or 07/30/10 news, 10073027, for BP summary of House-passed H.R. 5875.)
On August 5, 2010, the following trade-related bills were introduced:
The House of Representatives will return from its August recess on August 9-10, 2010 to consider the Senate's amendment to H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act.
The Congressional Research Service has issued a report entitled “China and the United States -- A Comparison of Green Energy Programs and Policies.”
The Congressional Research Service has issued a report entitled “World Trade Organization (WTO): Issues in the Debate on Continued U.S. Participation.”
On August 3, 2010, Congressman Berman (D), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen (R), the Ranking Republican Member of the Committee, announced the initiation of a bipartisan Working Group on Iran Sanctions Implementation. According to a Committee press release, the working group will help ensure that U.S. and international sanctions on Iran are fully implemented, effectively enforced and, ultimately, have the intended effect of bringing about Iran’s termination of all activities contributing to its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.
On August 5, 2010, Representative Michaud, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued a press release praising Senators Crapo, Collins, and Kohl for introducing the Senate version of his bill, the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (H.R. 1799), which would allow Maine and other states to increase the weight of trucks allowed on the Interstate System within state borders. Michaud states that the current patchwork of differing weight requirements harms safety by forcing trucks onto roads not designed for their use and hurts the economy by reducing the efficiency of freight networks.
On July 29, 2010 the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing entitled “The Crisis in Haiti: Are We Moving Fast Enough.”