In response to the second round of negotiations that will resume the week of June 14 on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Kerry (D) and Senate Foreign Relations East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Webb (D), issued a statement to support U.S. trade and economic integration in Asia.
On June 14, 2010, Senator Schumer (D) called on the Food and Drug Administration to immediately address recent reports suggesting a possible link between skin cancer and retinyl palmitate, a common ingredient found in sunscreen products. Schumer is pushing the FDA to promptly address these studies and also announce a timeline for new sunscreen regulations.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Dodd (D) and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Frank (D) have announced the House-Senate Conference will meet on June 15, 2010 to consider certain titles of H.R. 4173, the financial reform bill.
On June 14, 2010, the Senate continued its consideration of amendments to the House-passed H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (the Tax Extenders or Jobs bill). On June 15, 2010, the Senate is expected to continue its consideration of pending amendments to H.R. 4213.
On June 14, 2010, the Senate amended and passed the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act (S. 1660), a bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to reduce the emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood products.
The following are the trade-related hearings scheduled for June 14-19, 2010:
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Peterson (D) has released a letter signed by more than 70 pro-democracy Cuban leaders that strongly encouraged passage of H.R. 4645, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act. H.R. 4645 would facilitate expanded U.S. agricultural trade with Cuba and allow Americans to travel more freely to Cuba.
On June 10, 2010, Representative Pascrell (D) and Representative King (R), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, introduced H.R. 5498, The WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2010. This legislation would make progress toward implementing the recommendations of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission and improve U.S. efforts to prevent, deter, detect, and respond to an attack by a weapon of mass destruction.
On June 12, 2010, the President sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging swift action on several priorities to give assistance to U.S. small business, including the Tax Extenders bill, new small business legislation, proposals to bolster U.S. infrastructure and crate clean energy jobs in the U.S., etc.
On June 5, 2010, the American Apparel and Footwear Association submitted written testimony in response to the House Ways and Means Committee’s Trade Subcommittee May 20, 2010 hearing on Customs Trade Facilitation and Enforcement in a Secure Environment. In addition, the Trade Remedy and Reform Action Coalition submitted written comments on a prospective duty assessment system for the same hearing.