House Democrats Renew Push for American Manufacturing Legislation, Point to Several Trade-Related Bills

House Democrats renewed efforts on their “Make it in America” agenda July 9, urging passage for several bills hoped to add U.S. manufacturing jobs. Several of the bills named in a press release from House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) as part of the agenda are trade related.

Trade-related legislation includes:

• Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB): Eliminates duties on certain products not produced in the U.S., particularly raw materials and intermediate inputs that are used by U.S. manufacturers, reducing these manufacturers’ production costs and making them more competitive. The MTB, typically passed every congress, has faced some opposition recently from lawmakers who say it violates a congressional ban on earmarks.
• Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance To Help Transportation (FREIGHT) Act, HR-1338 - Calls for the development of a National Freight Strategic Transportation Plan to assess the current national freight transportation system, designate priority freight corridors and gateways, and create a proposed investment plan to develop the priorities. It also creates a National Freight Infrastructure Investment Grants program, which would fund eligible projects such as port development, freight rail improvement, and intelligent transportation systems. Text of the bill is (here).
• American Textile Technology Innovation and Research for Exportation (ATTIRE) Act, HR-2275: Creates a competitive grant program to fund research and innovation and to promote increased textile exports. Text of the bill is (here).
• Enforcing Orders and Reducing Customs Evasion (ENFORCE) Act of 2011, HR-3057: Establishes new procedures for investigating claims that foreign manufacturers are evading anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders to better enforce trade laws and prevent illegal imports. Text of the bill is (here).
• The Customs Training Enhancement Act of 2012: Creates a public-private partnership between the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and American manufacturers to provide specialized training to CBP agents to prevent mislabeled or transshipped items from entering the U.S.
• Export Promotion Reform Act,HR-4041: Strengthens the interagency Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC); increases coordination among federal export programs; requires the government to gather input from more sources, including small and medium-sized businesses, when drafting strategic plans for federal trade promotion policies; and directs ambassadors to develop country-specific commercial diplomacy plans to increase U.S. exports. Text of the bill is (here).

Details on the "Make it in America" are (here).