November 15,2004

Grassley, Baucus, 68 Colleagues Urge Passage of Miscellaneous Trade Bill

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, and Sen. Max Baucus, ranking member, with 68 colleagues have a sent a bipartisan letter to Senate leader surging final consideration and passage of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004. The senators hope for final passage before the 108th Congress ends as expected at the end of this week.

“This bill contains dozens of trade provisions, primarily duty suspensions, reductions and extensions, for products that aren’t produced domestically,” Grassley said. “The bill supports American factories and workers by allowing manufacturers to save money when they import these products. We should be doing all we can to help American manufacturing compete, and that’s what this legislation does. This bill has traveled a long, difficult road. I look forward to getting it done.”

Baucus said: “Senator Grassley and I have worked hard over the last several years tocomplete work on this important legislation. This bill helps hundreds of companies across thecountry, including in my home state of Montana. It’s important that the Senate complete work onthis bill – but also that we continue the tradition of completing a Miscellaneous Trade Bill.”

The text of the senators’ letter follows.

November 12, 2004

The Honorable William H. Frist, M.D.
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Tom Daschle
Democratic Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Frist and Senator Daschle:

We are writing to express our strong support for your willingness to take the necessary procedural steps to ensure enactment of the conference report to H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade andTechnical Corrections Act of 2004, before Congress adjourns the 108th Congress sine die.

Efforts have been underway to pass this legislation throughout the 108th Congress. On October 8, 2004, a conference report was agreed upon and passed by the House of Representatives. Now the burden is firmly on the Senate to pass this critical legislation and relieve the tariff burden on companies and individuals. The strong support the Senate has given this legislation in the past indicates that there is an overwhelming and bipartisan majority in favor of its passage.We strongly support your taking the necessary procedural steps, including filing cloture, to ensurethat this legislation is enacted before the end of the 108th Congress.

Sincerely,

Charles Grassley, Chairman

Max Baucus, Ranking Member