Chuck Grassley: “today, I rise to object to the Dyeing and Finishing Provision found in the 2002 supplemental appropriations bill, H.R.…”

“today, I rise to object to the Dyeing and Finishing Provision found in the 2002 supplemental appropriations bill, H.R. 4775, that is now going through the conference process within the Senate and will soon be voted on by this body. This provision is of serious concern to me because it falls within the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee and it was not voted on nor reviewed by the committee. Senator Baucus and I sent a joint letter in June expressing our deep concern about the inclusion of this provision in the bill and asked the chairman of the Appropriations Committee to oppose this provision due to our jurisdiction concerns. Section 1405 of the House bill pertains language that will amend two U.S. trade preference programs: the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act and the Andean Trade Preference Act. The amendment requires certain fabric to be dyed and finished in the United States in order for apparel sewn from such fabric in the Carribean or Andean region to enter the United States duty-free. Regardless of how my colleagues feel about the requirement for fabric to be dyed and finished in the United States to qualify for duty-free treatment they should respect the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee under the trade laws of this Congress.”