The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has announced that on June 10, 2010, it will hold a hearing on the nomination of John S. Pistole, to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and an Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
‘The Senate Finance Committee has announced that on June 10, 2010 it will be holding a hearing on the U.S.-China Economic Relationship: A New Approach for a New China.
On June 2, 2010, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Homeland Security Committees urged the Department of Homeland Security to step up its implementation of a voluntary program to help private sector companies develop preparedness, response, and business continuity plans. The Chairmen sent a letter to DHS Secretary Napolitano noting that the program, required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53), has still has not yet been launched.
On May 20, 2010, Representative Delahunt (D) introduced the Cambodian Trade Act of 2010 (H.R. 5349) which would prohibit the extension of duty-free treatment to all Cambodian apparel and certain Cambodian textiles, footwear.
Senator Kerry (D) has issued a press release stating that he and Senator Lieberman (I), authors of the Senate’s comprehensive energy independence and climate change legislation, have praised the President for his commitment to rounding up votes to pass their legislation.
After the House passage of H.R. 5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, Representative Richardson (D) issued a press release noting that one of the amendments to H.R. 5136 adopted before passage would expand the scope of a study on strategic seaports to include consideration of the infrastructure beyond the facilities inside the port and evaluate the vicinity of strategic ports.
The following are details of H.R. 4805, the ”Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act” which the House Energy and Commerce Committee ordered favorably reported1 on May 26, 2010.
On May 25, 2010, Representative Owens (D) introduced H.R. 5375, the Customs De Minimis Adjustment Act of 2010, which would allow the de minimis limit for duty-free entry to be increased.
On June 1, 2010, 16 Republican Senators1 sent a letter to the President asking that the governments of Korea, Colombia, and Panama be provided a well-defined and finite list of the outstanding issues they need to accomplish in order for the U.S. to take action on the stalled free trade agreements with these nations, and a specific timeline for the enactment of the FTAs.
On June 1, 2010, Senator Lincoln, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, announced that the Committee will begin hearings on the reauthorization of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (“Farm Bill”) in June 2010. The first hearing is scheduled for June 30, 2010 and will focus on maintaining a strong U.S. farm policy.