Chuck Grassley: “I rise in strong support of granting normal trade relations status to Serbia and Montenegro, which was revoked from…”

“I rise in strong support of granting normal trade relations status to Serbia and Montenegro, which was revoked from Yugoslavia under U.S. sanctions in 1992. Senator Voinovich submitted an amendment to the Department of State Authorization bill to grant normal trade relations status to Serbia and Montenegro. However, because this matter is within the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee, which I chair, I felt it necessary to object to including the provision on that piece of legislation. Still, I understand Senator's Voinovich's frustration. The Finance Committee reported out legislation which would renew normal trade relations status for Serbia and Montenegro on March 20, 2003, in the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003, S. 671. This bill generally passes each year by unanimous consent in the Senate. Unfortunately, the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill has been held up for months by the insistence of some Senators on including an unrelated, controversial provision to the bill. This provision cannot be included in the bill because other Senators will object. By holding up this important piece of legislation, U.S. manufacturers and workers whose businesses rely on duty suspensions are being harmed. They are losing money, and facing the possibility of laying off workers every day that we fail to act. This is important legislation, and I know that I am not the only one who thinks so.”