WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 6517, the Omnibus Trade Act of 2010, as amended, by voice vote. The legislation, introduced by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI) on Dec. 13, 2010, promotes the competitiveness of American manufacturing and extends important expiring trade provisions.
“H.R. 6517’s passage by the House today is vital for expanding American jobs and helping hundreds of thousands of workers who lost their employment and who continue to seek to return to work," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI). “The bill’s provisions reinforce each other and I urge my Senate colleagues to act without delay to pass this important legislation."
BACKGROUND ON THE OMNIBUS TRADE ACT OF 2010:
Miscellaneous Tariff Bills
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Temporarily suspends or reduces import duties on over 290 products, mostly on inputs or components, reducing the cost of manufacturing here in the United States (this is a second grouping of “miscellaneous tariff bills" - the first was signed into law in August after passing the House by a vote of 378-43).
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The MTB supports American manufacturing. In fact, an overwhelming 91 percent of the bill - 271 of 298 provisions - cover inputs used in further manufacturing, including chemical inputs, inputs used by the U.S. textile and apparel industry, and inputs for metals and petroleum exploration.
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)
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Extends TAA programs that were overhauled in 2009 for 18 months, providing support and training to trade-affected workers.
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Since the reforms were implemented in May 2009, more than 155,000 additional trade-impacted workers who may not have been certified under the former TAA program became eligible for TAA for Workers benefits and training opportunities. In total, more than 367,000 workers were certified as eligible for TAA support in that timeframe. In FY2010 alone, 227,882 workers took advantage of TAA and participated in the program, receiving case management, training and/or income support.
GSP/ATPA
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Extends tariff preference programs for developing countries (i.e., the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA)) for 18 months. Both GSP and ATPA help support U.S. jobs, in addition to promoting development. The majority of U.S. imports under GSP (65-75%, depending on the year) were inputs used to support U.S. manufacturing - including raw materials, parts and components, and machinery and equipment. And in 2009, $115 million of U.S. textile mill products (U.S. yarns and fabrics) were exported to the ATPA countries.
Wool Trust Fund
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Ensures funding for a program in place since 2000 that assists U.S. wool suit makers and their workers (the wool trust fund).
