Bill Updating U.S. Custom Laws, Protecting Workers Heads to President’s Desk

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Eighth District Congressman Commerce Committee Larry Bucshon, M.D. released the following statement after House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), signed H.R. 644, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, legislation designed to update the nation’s customs laws to level the playing field for American workers:

“This soon-to-be law helps provide our customs and border officials with the tools necessary to protect American workers and ensure fair and legitimate trade practices. It strengthens U.S. intellectual property rights and antidumping laws and helps combat currency manipulation, which has put American companies and jobs at an unfair disadvantage. Our workers are the best in the world, but they are facing an unfair playing field against bad actors like China. With this bill, we expand international trade opportunities and protect American workers so that we can make products here in America and ship them around the world,” said Bucshon.

 

“Additionally, we reaffirm that trade deals negotiated by the Administration cannot be used as a vehicle to implement climate change policies or change U.S. immigration laws.”

 

H.R 644 is a bipartisan, bicameral agreement, which originally passed the Senate in May of 2015 and passed the House in June of 2015. It now heads to President Obama’s desk.