May 20,2004

House Appoints Conferees on Miscellaneous Trade Bill

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Reporters and Editors
Re: miscellaneous trade bill
Da: Thursday, May 20, 2004

Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the following comment on the House’s appointment of conferees on the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003.

“I’m pleased to see that the House of Representatives appointed conferees on theMiscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003. This is an important bill, and it needsto get done. I hope the Senate will follow suit and appoint conferees as soon as possible.”

The House Ways and Means Committee news release follows for reference.

Committee on Ways and Means
For Immediate Release 
May 20, 2004 
Contact: Press Office
202-225-8933

House Appoints Conferees on Misc. Trade Bill
Ball Now in Senate's Court, says Thomas

WASHINGTON - Today, the House appointed its Conferees on H.R. 1047, TheMiscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003.

The Conferees named by the House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) include:Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA); Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL); Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL);Ranking Member Charles Rangel (D-NY); and Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI).

"Action is long overdue on this bill to help American manufacturers and workers.The House is ready to go, and the ball is now in the Senate's court," said ChairmanThomas.

The technical corrections in the bill are both time-sensitive and bipartisan. Theprovisions are thoroughly vetted and pose limited costs.

The bill accomplishes the following:

Enables U.S. companies to more efficiently produce goods, which increasescompetitiveness, as well as includes provisions to help companies achieve costefficiency;

Helps create jobs for American workers and encourages U.S. producers to remainin the U.S. rather than relocating their businesses overseas; and

Reduces costs for U.S. consumers, helping to make everyday products moreaffordable.

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