US Congress House Bill 4979 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 10-2)
Status: Engrossed on February 14 2018 - 50% progression, died in committee
Action: 2018-02-14 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Pending: Senate Finance Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Engrossed) [PDF]

To extend the Generalized System of Preferences and to make technical changes to the competitive need limitations provision of the program. (Sec. 1) This bill extends the Generalized System of Preferences (a U.S. trade preference program that provides duty-free access to imports on products from certain developing countries) through 2020. The U.S. Trade Representative, within one year of this bill's enactment and annually thereafter through December 31, 2020, must report to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee on efforts to ensure that countries designated as beneficiary developing countries under the Trade Act of 1974 are meeting the eligibility criteria set forth in that Act. (Sec. 2) The Trade Act of 1974 is amended to modify the deadline for the review process with respect to the competitive needs limitation. (The competitive need limitation terminates duty-free treatment with respect to articles from a beneficiary developing country if certain import limits are exceeded.) (Sec. 3) The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 is amended to extend through August 1, 2027, the authority for customs user fees for the processing of merchandise formally entered or released into the United States.

To extend the Generalized System of Preferences and to make technical changes to the competitive need limitations provision of the program.

Rep. David Reichert [R-WA]	Rep. Bill Pascrell [D-NJ]	Rep. Kevin Brady [R-TX]	Rep. Richard Neal [D-MA]
Rep. Jackie Walorski [R-IN]	Rep. Carlos Curbelo [R-FL]	Rep. Adrian Smith [R-NE]	Rep. Mike Kelly [R-PA]
Rep. Patrick Meehan [R-PA]	Rep. Kenny Marchant [R-TX]	Rep. Erik Paulsen [R-MN]	Rep. Drew Ferguson [R-GA]

2018-02-13 - House - On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended RC# 71 (Y: 400 N: 2 NV: 28 Abs: 0) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2018-02-14	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
2018-02-13	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2018-02-13	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 400 - 2 (Roll no. 71). (text: CR H1100)
2018-02-13	House	Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1104-1105)
2018-02-13	House	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
2018-02-13	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4979.
2018-02-13	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1100-1103)
2018-02-13	House	Mr. Reichert moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2018-02-13	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
2018-02-08	House	Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
2018-02-08	House	Introduced in House

HB1625 (Related) 2018-03-23 - Became Public Law No: 115-141.
HB4068 (Related) 2017-10-12 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
SB2036 (Related) 2017-10-31 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4979/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4979/BILLS-115hr4979ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4979/BILLS-115hr4979eh.pdf
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/201871