Orrin Hatch: “2015 was an extremely productive year for our Nation's trade agenda as, on multiple occasions, both parties were able to…”

“2015 was an extremely productive year for our Nation's trade agenda as, on multiple occasions, both parties were able to come together to take several steps to advance effective trade policies that will put our Nation on a more prosperous course. Hopefully, we will take another step here in the Senate before we leave for the recess. Before the Senate breaks for recess, we are likely to vote on the conference report for H.R. 644, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, legislation that originally passed in this Chamber back in May of last year. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I was one of the original authors of this legislation, and I was honored to serve as the chair of the conference committee. I believe our report represents a strong bipartisan, bicameral agreement that will effectively address a number of trade policy priorities. In fact, it has already passed the House with a strong, super-majority vote. I am hoping to see a similar vote here in the Senate. I would like to take a few minutes to talk about some of the specifics of this legislation, which is generally referred to simply as ``the Customs bill.'' If enacted, this compromise version of the Customs bill would address three main policy goals. The first goal is to facilitate and streamline the flow of legitimate trade into and out of the United States. To accomplish this goal, the bill, among other things, reduces paperwork and bureaucratic burdens on U.S.…”