The WTC Trade Policy Advocacy Council ("Council") made up of members with an interest in international legislative activity and is a resource for members of the WTC Denver. The Council endeavors to provide timely and objective information about actions, policies and proposals of the federal, state and local governments that may affect conditions for international trade, commerce and investment by companies and entrepreneurs located in Colorado. Consistent with that mission, the Council maintains this page regarding current and prospective bills and resolutions under consideration by Congress and the Colorado General Assembly that might be of interest to WTC Denver members. If you are interested in a bill or resolution listed below, or, if you are interested in adding a bill or resolution to the list, please email the WTC Denver at wtcdenver@att.net.
Colorado General Assembly
HB 1328
Status: HB 1328 died in committee.
Synopsis: In many legislative sessions, our Colorado General Assembly does not address bills affecting international business and trade. However, during the 2009 Legislative Session, HB 1328 was introduced and considered in committee. This Bill would require all public projects to purchase steel products made in the US. Although some may view this preference as beneficial to our State, enactment of such protectionist legislation could hurt Colorado's efforts to attract direct foreign investment in Colorado and promote international trade and global business. For that reason, WTC staff and the Council attended hearings on the bill and raised concerns with the sponsors and members of the involved Committees.
111th Congress
The Senate and House of Representatives have continued to consider and debate numerous bills and resolutions regarding immigration, nationality and illegal aliens. The Council has concentrated on bills and resolutions that affect the business side of our international community, especially international trade from and to Colorado. The bills and resolutions being monitored include:
S.Res.77
Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Synopsis: Resolution expressing that the US and China should negotiate a bilateral agreement on clean energy cooperation.
S.Res.76
Status: Referred to the Committee on Finance.
Synopsis: Resolution expressing that U.S. and China should work together to reduce or eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in clean energy and environmental goods and services.
S.Res.311
Status: Introduced in the Senate.
Synopsis: A resolution encouraging the U.S. Trade Representative to pursue a free trade agreement between the U.S. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
S.Res.206
Status: Introduced in the Senate.
Synopsis: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should immediately implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.
S.Res.136
Status: Referred to Committee on Finance.
Synopsis: A bill expressing the sense of the Senate that the U.S. should initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with the country of Georgia.
S.780 (also HR 1837)
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Synopsis: Bill to amend the Andean Trade Preference Act to add Paraguay to the list of countries that are eligible to be designated as beneficiary countries and ATPDEA beneficiary countries.
S.594
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Synopsis: Bill to require report on invasive agricultural pests and diseases and phytosanitary barriers to trade before initiating negotiations to enter into any free trade agreement.
S.587
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Synopsis: Bill to establish the Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum to establish partnerships with interested countries in the hemisphere to promote energy security through the development of sustainable biofuels production and energy alternatives, research and infrastructure.
S.363
Status: Read twice and referred to Committee on Finance.
Synopsis: Bill to make determinations by the US Trade Representative under Title III of the Trade Act of 1974 reviewable by the Court of International Trade and to ensure that the US Trade Representative considers petitions to enforce US trade rights.
S.2821
Last Major Date: 01/09/2012
Status: Introduced in the Senate.
Synopsis: A bill to require a reveiw of existin trade agreements and renegotiation of existing trade agreements based on the review, to establish terms for future trade agreements, to express the sense of the Congress in making trade policy should be strengthened, and for other purposes.
S.2598
Status: Introduced in the Senate.
Synopsis: A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on imports of certain handheld moving coil dynamic microphones.
S.1982
Trade Enforcement Priorities Act
Status: Introduced in the Senate.
Synopsis: A bill to renew and extend the provisions relating to the identification of trade enforcement priorities, and for other purposes.
S.1766
Reciprocal Market Access Act of 2009
Last Major Date: 08/09/2010
Status: Introduced in the Senate.
Synopsis: A bill to enhance reciprocal market access for U.S. domestic producers in the negotiating process of bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade agreements.
S.1671
Status: Introduced in the Senate.
Synopsis: A bill to enhance the reporting requirements on the status of the Arab League trade boycott and other trade boycotts of Israel.
S.1665
Status: Introduced in the Senate.
Synopsis: A bill to amend the Andean Trade Preference Act to add Paraguay and Uruguay to the list of companies that are eligible to be designated as beneficiary countries and ATPDEA beneficiary countries, and for other purposes.
S.1631
Status: Referred to the Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
Synopsis: A bill to reauthorize customs facilitation and trade enforcement functions and programs, and for other purposes.
S.1616
Status: Introduced in the Senate.
Synopsis: A bill to authorize assistance to small and medium sized businesses to promote exports to the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes.
S.1466
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Synopsis: A bill to establish the position of Deputy United States Trade Representative for Trade Enforcement and a Trade Enforcement Division in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, to establish a Chief Manufacturing Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, to strengthen enforcement of United States intellectual property rights at United States borders, and for other purposes.
S.1208
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Synopsis: A bill to amend the Small Business Act to improve export growth opportunities for small businesses, and for other purposes.
S.1196
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Synopsis: A bill to amend the Small Business Act to improve the Office of International Trade, and for other purposes.
S.1141
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Synopsis: A bill to extend certain trade preferences to certain least-developed countries, and for other purposes.
S.1089
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Synopsis: A bill to facilitate the export of U.S. agriculture commodities and products to Cuba as authorized by the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, to establish an agricultural export promotion program with respect to Cuba, to remove impediments to the export to Cuba of medical devices and medicines, to allow travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens and legal residents, to establish an agricultural export promotion program with respect to Cuba, and for other purposes.
S.1043
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Synopsis: A bill to require the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate a remed for the equitable border tax treatment on goods and services within the WTO by January 1, 2010 and for other purposes.
S.1043
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Synopsis: A bill to require the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate a remed for the equitable border tax treatment on goods and services within the WTO by January 1, 2010 and for other purposes.
HR 5901
Real Estate Jobs and Investment Act of 2010
Last Major Date: 07/30/2010
Status: Introduced in the House, July 28, 2010
Considered in the House, July 29, 2010
Passed in the House, July 30, 2010
Synopsis: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt certain stock of real estate investment trusts from the tax on foreign investment in United States real property interests, and for other purposes.
HR 5694
One Global Internet Act of 2010
Last Major Date: 07/01/2010
Status: Introduced in the House, July 1, 2010
Synopsis: A bill to combat trade barriers that threaten the maintenance of a single, open, global Internet, that mandate unique technology standards as a condition of market access and related measures, and to promote the free flow of information
HR 5156
Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010
Last Major Date: 07/28/2010
Status: Passed in the House, as amended, July 28, 2010
Synopsis: A bill to provide for the establishment of a Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund to assist United States businesses with exporting clean energy technology products and services
HR 1875
End the Trade Deficit Act
Last Major Date: 07/28/2010
Status: Passed in the House, as amended, July 28, 2010
Synopsis: A bill to establish an Emergency Commission To End the Trade Deficit
HJR 83
No Official Title Given
Last Major Date: 07/27/2010
Status: Became Public Law, July 27, 2010
Synopsis: A joint resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003
HCR 132
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: Insists upon freedom, democracy, and human rights, including the release of all political prisoners, the legalization of political parties, free speech and a free press, and supervised elections, before increasing U.S. trade and tourism to Cuba.
H.Res.987
Status: Introduced in the House and referred to House subcommittee.
Synopsis: A resolution recognizing the importance of trade to the U.S. economy and the importance of passing free trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama.
H.Res.934
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: A resolution calling on the Government of the Republic of Korea to end unfair trade practices as such practices relate to the automotive industry, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that it should take into account such unfair trade practices of the Republic of Korea when the House of Representatives considers the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, and for other purposes.
H.Res.887
Last Major Date: 03/09/2011
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: A resolution recognizing the World Trade Organization member, Chinese Taipei's, accession to the Government Procurement Agreement on July 15, 2009, and extending hope and good faith that this will promote its domestic economy and position in the global economy.
H.R.947
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.
Synopsis: A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish and collect a fee based on the fair market value of articles imported into the US and articles exported from the US in commerce and to use amounts collected from the fee to make grants to carry out transportation projects in the transportation trade corridors for which the fee is collected.
H.R.496
Status:
Synopsis: A bill to amend US trade laws to eliminate foreign barriers to exports of US goods and services, to restore rights under trade remedy laws, to strengthen enforcement of US intellectual property rights and health and safety laws at US borders.
H.R.4284
Status: 12/14/09 Introduced to the House, Considered in the House 12/14/09, Passed in the House 12/14/09.
Synopsis: A bill to extend the Generalized System of Preferences and the Andean Trade Preference Act, and for other purposes.
H.R.4259
Employment Benefit Act
Last Major Date: 10/09/2012
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: A bill to facilitate foreign investment by permanently reauthorizing the EB-5 regional center program, and for other purposes.
H.R.414
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means
Synopsis: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the U.S. should initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with the country of Georgia.
H.R.4101
New Partnership for Trade Development Act of 2009
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: A bill to amend the African Growth and Opportunity and the Trade Act of 1974 to provide improved duty-free treatment for certain articles from certain least-developed countries, and for other purposes.
H.R.4046
Last Major Date: 06/09/2011
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: A bill to enhance the reporting requirements on the status of the Arab League trade boycott of Israel and other trade boycotts of Israel.
H.R.3840
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: A bill to strengthen certain provisions relating to arms export licenses, and for other purposes.
H.R.3786
Reciprocal Market Access Act of 2009
Last Major Date: 08/09/2010
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: A bill to enhance reciprocal market access for U.S. domestic producers in the negotiating process of bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade agreements.
H.R.3515
Export Control Improvements Act
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: A bill to make improvements in the electronic filing of export data, to strengthen enforcement authorities with respect to the Export Administration Regulations, and for other purposes.
H.R.3347
Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Synopsis: To withdraw normal trade relations treatment from the products of foreign countries that do not maintain acceptable standards of religious freedom and worker rights.
H.R.3276
American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2009
Last Major Date: 10/09/2012
Status:
Introduced in the House, 07/21/09
Reported in the House, as amended, 11/04/09
Considered in the House, as amended, 11/05/09
Passed in the House, as amended, 11/05/09
Synopsis: A bill to promote the production of molybdenum-99 in the U.S. for medical isotope production, and to condition and phase out the export of highly enriched uranium for the production of medical isotopes.
H.R.3276
Reduce Iranian Cyber-Suppression Act
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: A bill to prohibit the heads of executive agencies from entering into or renewing procurement contracts with persons that export certain computer or telecommunications technologies to Iran, and for other purposes.
H.R.3012
Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Synopsis: A bill to require a review of existing trade agreements and renegotiation of existing trade agreements based on the review, to set terms for future trade agreements, to express the sense of the Congress that the role of Congress in trade policy making should be strengthened, and for other purposes.
H.R.2927
Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Synopsis: A bill to authorize the imposition of a tax on imports from any country that employs indirect taxes and grants rebates of the same upon export and to authorize compensatory payments to eligible United States exporters to neutralize the discriminatory effect of such taxes paid by such exporters if United States trade negotiating objectives regarding border tax treatment in World Trade Organization negotiations are not met.
H.R.2742
Status: Introduced in the House.
Synopsis: A bill to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of Azerbaijan.
H.R.2310
United States-China Market Engagement and Export Promotion Act
Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Synopsis: To authorize assistance to small and medium sized businesses to promote exports to the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes.
H.R.1875
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Synopsis: A bill to establish an emergency commission to end the trade deficit.
H.R.1737
Status: House committee/subcommittee actions; Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Synopsis: A bill to facilitate the sale of agricultural products to Cuba.
H.R.1531
Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Agriculture, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Synopsis: A bill to facilitate export of agricultural products, medical devices, and medicines to Cuba and establish agricultural export promotion programs with respect to Cuba.
H.R.1530
Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Synopsis: A bill to lift the trade embargo on Cuba.
H.J.RES.56
Status: Became Public Law (P.L. 111-42).
Synopsis: Approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, and for other purposes.
