WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and Ranking Member Jim McCrery (R-LA) issued the following joint statement today on a bi-partisan, bi-cameral agreement to consider the extension of trade preferences to Andean nations before the full House on Wednesday under suspension of the rules. Chairman Rangel and Ranking Member McCrery worked with their colleagues in the Senate to forge support for expedited consideration of an eight month extension of the preferences, currently set to expire on June 30.
"We are pleased to announce that we have worked with Senators Baucus and Grassley to gain bipartisan support in the House and Senate for an eight month extension of these critical trade preferences for the Andean nations," said Chairman Rangel. "With swift action in the House and Senate, we aim to present a bill to the President to sign into law before the benefits expire on Saturday."
The Ways and Means Committee had reserved tomorrow for a mark-up of the Andean preference bill. This mark-up will no longer take place.
