zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Sewage Sludge in Food Production Consumer Notification Act 

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Egg Products Inspection Act, the Federal Meat Inspection Act, and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to require consumers to be notified regarding food produced from crops, poultry, or livestock on land in which sewage sludge was applied. Sewage sludge is solid, semi-solid, or liquid residue generated during the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment works. Under the bill, if consumers are not notified regarding food produced on land on which sewage sludge was applied, the food is considered adulterated food subject to Food and Drug Administration or Department of Agriculture recalls.

Date: 2015-02-04
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the sale of food that has been genetically engineered or contains genetically engineered ingredients, unless that information is clearly disclosed.

This prohibition does not apply to: (1) food served in restaurants, (2) medical food, (3) packaged food that is less than 0.9% genetically engineered material, and (4) food that qualifies as genetically engineered solely because it is produced using a genetically engineered vaccine or because it includes the use of a genetically engineered processing aid (including yeast) or enzyme.

Labeling or advertising foods containing genetically engineered material as “natural,” or using similar words, is prohibited.

A food recipient is not subject to penalties for misbranding of genetically engineered food or ingredients if the recipient has a guaranty that is signed by the person from whom they received the food (including seeds) and the guaranty states that the food is not genetically engineered or does not contain a genetically engineered ingredient.

Food is deemed to have been produced without the knowing or intentional use of genetic engineering if: (1) the food is certified as organic; or (2) an independent organization determines the food has not been knowingly or intentionally genetically engineered or commingled with genetically engineered food, with that determination being based on testing that is consistent with international standards and not reliant on processed foods with no detectable DNA.

An agricultural producer is not subject to penalties for misbranding of genetically engineered food or ingredients if a violation occurs because food unintentionally becomes contaminated with genetically engineered material and the contamination is not due to the producer’s negligence.

Date: 2015-02-12
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 

This bill reauthorizes and amends provisions of the United States Grain Standards Act. The Act authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish official marketing standards for grains, and to provide procedures for grain inspection and weighing. The bill reauthorizes several expiring provisions through FY2020, provides a safeguard mechanism in the event of an interruption of inspection services, revises the process for delegating inspections to state agencies, and revises fees for inspection and weighing services.

(Sec. 2) The bill amends the purposes of the Act to include: promoting the marketing of high quality grain responsive to the purchase specifications of domestic and foreign buyers; and providing an accurate, reliable, consistently available, and cost-effective official grain inspection and weighing system.

The bill revises USDA's discretionary authority to waive weighing and inspection requirements in emergency circumstances to require a waiver in an emergency or major disaster. Transfers of grain into an export elevator by any mode of transportation are not required to be officially weighed.

The bill ends the permanent delegation to state agencies to carry out export inspection and weighing services. USDA must review current delegations, provide public notice and a comment period, establish an application process, and require states to reapply for delegated status after five years.

Official inspection services must be provided in an uninterrupted manner except in the case of a major disaster. In the event of a disruption, the bill sets forth procedures and requirements for resuming official inspection and weighing services.

USDA may waive the geographic boundaries for designated agencies if adjacent agencies have agreed to waive the boundaries.

The bill changes the fee calculation for inspection and weighing services and extends the authority to collect fees through FY2020.

The duration of licenses for inspectors is extended from three to five years, and the qualifications for inspectors are revised.

The bill extends the limitation on total administrative and supervisory costs, the authorization of appropriations, and the authorization of the advisory committee through FY2020.

Date: 2015-04-29
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Pathogen Reduction and Testing Reform Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act to revise the definition of "adulterated" to make explicit the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) authority to issue a recall of meat, poultry, and egg products that contain microbial pathogens associated with serious illness or death or are resistant to two or more antibiotics critically important for human medicine.

The bill requires USDA to establish sampling protocols and testing procedures necessary to determine if meat, poultry, and egg products are adulterated under this bill and to prevent the entry, flow, or movement of those products into commerce.

Date: 2015-05-13
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a streamlined data review program under which the holder of an approved application for a drug or biological product may submit a summary of clinical data to support approval of the drug for the treatment of cancer or another indication subject to the program.

For a drug to be eligible for the streamlined data review program there must be a database regarding the safety of the drug and the full data sets used to develop the data summaries must be submitted, unless the FDA determines that the full data sets are not required.

The FDA must annually publish: (1) the number of applications reviewed under the streamlined data review program, (2) the average time for completion of review under the streamlined data review program compared to review of other applications for new indications, and (3) the number of applications reviewed under the streamlined data review program for which the FDA made use of full data sets.

Date: 2015-05-19
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
Delivering Antimicrobial Transparency in Animals Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise reporting requirements for new animal drugs containing an antimicrobial.

Certain live poultry dealers, swine contractors, and feed lot operators who purchase, contract, or manufacture animal feed containing a new antimicrobial animal drug must annually report to the Food and Drug Administration, by food-producing animal, the amount of drug per kilogram of feed, and the quantity of feed sold or distributed. Additional information must be provided for feed sold or distributed under a veterinary feed directive.

The FDA may specify alternative reporting requirements to improve the accuracy of reports, lessen the burden of reporting, facilitate providing public summaries of reports, or improve the FDA's ability to use reports or the public's ability to use summaries.

The FDA must publish summaries of these reports and reports from sponsors of new antimicrobial animal drugs, with data reported by antimicrobial drug class. Alternative reporting requirements are specified for antimicrobial drug classes with fewer than three new animal drugs.

The FDA must increase collaboration and coordination with the Department of Agriculture to expand the collection of data on the use of antimicrobials on food-producing animals and to provide information for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Economic Research Service.

The Government Accountability Office must evaluate the voluntary approach used by the FDA to eliminate injudicious use of antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals and the effectiveness of FDA data collection activities regarding antimicrobial resistance.

Date: 2015-05-19
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act or the PRIME Act 

This bill amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to expand the exemption of custom slaughtering of animals from federal inspection requirements.

Under current law, the exemption applies if the meat is slaughtered for personal, household, guest, and employee uses. The bill expands the exemption to include meat that is:

 slaughtered and prepared at a custom slaughter facility in accordance with the laws of the state where the facility is located; and prepared exclusively for distribution to household consumers in the state and restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, grocery stores, or other establishments in the state that either prepare meals served directly to consumers or sell meat and food products directly to consumers in the state. The bill does not preempt any state law concerning the slaughter of animals or the preparation of carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products at a custom slaughter facility, or the sale of meat or meat food products.

Date: 2015-07-23
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Farm to Table Safety Act

 This bill amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to modify the food safety education program authorized in the Act. The bill requires the Department of Agriculture to: (1) include farm workers in the program, and (2) expand the scope of the program to include practices that prevent bacterial contamination of food, methods of identifying sources of food contamination, and other means of decreasing food contamination.

Date: 2015-09-17
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Milk Freedom Act of 2015 

This bill provides that federal departments, agencies, or courts must not prohibit, interfere with, regulate, or otherwise restrict the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk or milk products packaged for direct human consumption based on the determination that, solely because the product is unpasteurized, it is adulterated, misbranded, or otherwise in violation of federal law.

Date: 2015-09-18
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Interstate Milk Freedom Act of 2015 

This bill provides that federal departments, agencies, or courts must not prohibit, interfere with, regulate, or otherwise restrict the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk or milk products packaged for direct human consumption if:

 the action is based on a determination that, solely because the product is unpasteurized, it is adulterated, misbranded, or otherwise in violation of federal law; the state of origin allows unpasteurized milk or milk products to be distributed for direct human consumption by any means; the product is produced, packaged, and moved in compliance with the laws of the state of origin; and the product is moved from the state of origin with the intent to transport it to another state which allows the distribution of unpasteurized milk or milk products for direct human consumption. The bill does not preempt any state laws.

Date: 2015-09-18
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require the front of food packages to bear a nutrition label that complies with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. The bill specifies principles for such regulations, including that there should be a standard, easily understood symbol system for calorie and nutrient information.

Only under specified conditions may the front of a food package include: (1) descriptions of whole grain content, (2) the term "wheat" or "whole wheat," or (3) a reference to a characterizing ingredient.

If a food contains added coloring, non-caloric sweetener, or flavoring, that fact must be stated on the front of the package.

The FDA must regulate food labels that make claims about the mechanism by which a nutrient affects the body. Food manufacturers must substantiate health claims on a label upon request from the FDA. Labeling regarding trans fat and cholesterol is restricted. The FDA must establish a level of added sugars above which a food is disqualified from making health claims on the label.

Regarding food labels, the FDA must: (1) regulate use of "natural," (2) prohibit use of "healthy" on certain foods, and (3) establish formatting requirements for ingredient lists.

Food labels must include the percent of recommended daily calories and daily added sugars per serving. Labels must disclose the amount of added sugars in teaspoons and grams.

Foods containing caffeine must be labeled with the amount.

Sesame is added to the list of major food allergens.

The names of major food allergens in nonpackaged food offered for sale at retail must be on a sign adjacent to the food.

Food manufacturers and importers must submit to the FDA for publication the information to be included on a food's label and keep this information updated.

"Artificial" and "synthetic" are defined for purposes of the FFDCA.

Date: 2015-11-18
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
Christmas Tree Tax Exemption Act 

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to permit "choose and cut" Christmas tree producers to opt out of USDA's Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order with respect to trees sold directly to final consumers.

(The order was authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 and includes an assessment on Christmas tree producers to fund a promotion, research, and information program for fresh cut Christmas trees.)

Date: 2015-12-09
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Food Date Labeling Act of 2016

This bill establishes requirements that: (1) address food waste that occurs when people throw out fresh food because of their confusion over the meaning of expiration dates on food labels and whether or not the food is still safe to eat, and (2) standardize quality date and safety date food labels. Producers, manufacturers, distributors, or retailers that place a date label on food packaging of a product (food labelers) must use the phrases "best if used by" to indicate food quality and the phrase "expires on" to warn of food that may be unsafe to eat after a specified date.

While labelers may voluntarily choose to include a quality date on packaging, they must include a safety date on ready-to-eat products.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish guidance for food labelers on how to determine quality dates and safety dates for food products.

No one may prohibit the sale, donation, or use of a product after the quality date for the product has passed.

USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services must educate consumers on the meaning of quality date and safety date food labels.

Date: 2016-05-19
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
Fruit Labeling Accuracy Act of 2016

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the Food and Drug Administration from requiring the percent daily value of added sugars to appear on the label of dried fruit or vegetables that are naturally low in sugar or juice beverages made from fruit or vegetables that are naturally low in sugar.

Date: 2016-09-22
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2016

This bill bans food containers composed, in whole or in part, of bisphenol A (BPA).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may grant waivers to a facility for a particular product if the facility: (1) demonstrates that it is not technologically feasible to replace BPA in the container or to use a BPA-free container, and (2) submits to the FDA a plan and time line for removing BPA from the container. Products granted a waiver must include a warning on the label.

The FDA must promote and facilitate the use of BPA replacements. BPA may not be replaced with substances that: (1) are known or likely human carcinogens; (2) have been found by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic; (3) cause reproductive or developmental toxicity; or (4) are endocrine disrupting chemicals.

The FDA must review substances that may be found in food, including food additives and food contact substances, and take remedial action if it does not determine that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure, taking into consideration potential adverse effects from low-dose exposure and the effects on vulnerable populations and populations with high exposure.

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the manufacturer or supplier of a food contact substance to notify the FDA of the identity and intended use of the substance prior to its introduction into interstate commerce and that: (1) no adverse health effects result from low-dose exposures to the substance, and (2) the substance has not been shown to cause reproductive or developmental toxicity in humans or animals.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
Imported Seafood Safety Standards Act

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the importation of any seafood from a foreign country unless the country complies with U.S. standards for seafood manufacturing, processing, and holding. Requires an annual inspection of each foreign facility that exports seafood to the United States to ensure compliance with U.S. standards. Requires periodic follow-up inspections of foreign facilities as determined necessary by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Requires the FDA to inspect and test not less than 20% of all imported seafood each year and the first 15 shipments of seafood imported from a new exporter. Sets forth procedures in the event an exporter fails to meet inspection or test requirements.

Directs the FDA to refuse entry of all seafood shipments from a country that repeatedly fails to meet inspection or testing requirements and establish exporter fees as necessary.

Requires the detention or destruction of imported seafood that fails to meet safety standards unless the shipment meets criteria for re-export.

Allows importation of seafood at only those U.S. ports of entry that have the personnel trained to conduct the applicable testing and inspections.

Prohibits making a knowingly false statement with respect to a test or inspection under this Act or knowingly misbranding any seafood imported under this Act. Establishes a civil penalty for violations.

Authorizes the FDA to establish a program under which a state may conduct inspection, testing, and certification of U.S. seafood imports.

Date: 2015-01-20
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed rule entitled "Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption" published by the Department of Health and Human Services on January 16, 2013, or any successor or substantially similar rule.

Date: 2015-02-12
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
BPA in Food Packaging Right to Know Act

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to: (1) issue a revised safety assessment for food containers composed in whole or in part of bisphenol A (BPA), taking into consideration different types and uses of such containers; and (2) determine whether there is reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure to BPA through food containers or other items composed in whole or in part of BPA, taking into consideration potential adverse effects from low-dose exposure and the effects of exposure on vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly, and populations with high exposure to BPA.

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the sale of a food if its container is composed in whole or in part of BPA unless the label includes the following statement: "This food packaging contains BPA, an endocrine-disrupting chemical, according to the National Institutes of Health."

Date: 2015-03-19
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
John Rainey Memorial Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem equine (horses and other members of the equidae family) parts to be an unsafe food additive or animal drug.

 Prohibits the knowing sale or transport of equines or equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for purposes of human consumption.

Date: 2015-05-06
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Meat and Poultry Recall Notification Act of 2015 

This bill amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, the Egg Products Inspection Act, and the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue a mandatory recall of contaminated meat, poultry, and egg products. Under current law, recalls are voluntary actions taken by food companies.

The bill modifies the definition of "adulterated" used for recalls to include a food product that bears or contains a pathogen or contaminant associated with serious illness or death.

If USDA determines that food violates a food safety law and there is a reasonable probability that the food, if consumed, would present a threat to public health, USDA must: (1) notify consumers and public health officials, and (2) provide the company with an opportunity to take voluntary actions.

If the company refuses to carry out voluntary actions within the time period and in the manner prescribed by USDA, USDA is authorized to control and possess the food, recall the food, and take other mandatory actions necessary to prevent its distribution.

In the case of a recall, USDA must provide affected retailers with a notice containing the product information of each product subject to the recall, and the retailers must post the notice or notify consumers using a customer card system.

The bill establishes procedures, including civil and criminal penalties, to enforce this bill and other food safety laws.

Date: 2015-05-13
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise the nutritional information that restaurants and retail food establishments must disclose. The nutrient content disclosure statement on the menu or menu board must include: (1) the number of calories contained in the whole menu item; (2) the number of servings and number of calories per serving; or (3) the number of calories per common unit of the item, such as for a multi-serving item that is typically divided before presentation to the consumer. Nutritional information may be provided solely by a remote-access menu (e.g., an Internet menu) for food establishments where the majority of orders are placed by customers who are off-premises.

Establishments with self-serve food may comply with the requirements for restaurants or place signs with nutritional information adjacent to each food item.

An establishment’s nutrient content disclosures have a “reasonable basis” if they are within acceptable allowances for variation, including variations in serving size or ingredients and inadvertent human error in formulation.

Establishments with standard menu items that come in different flavors, varieties, or combinations, that are listed as a single menu item can determine and disclose nutritional information using specified methods or methods allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Regulations pursuant to this Act or the clause amended by this Act cannot take effect earlier than two years after final regulations are promulgated pursuant to this Act.

The FDA may not exempt states from nutrition labeling requirements.

Date: 2015-10-29
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a national voluntary bioengineered food labeling standard.

The standard applies to food that either contains or was developed or produced using genetic material that: (1) has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) techniques, and (2) could not otherwise be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature. (Recombinant DNA is DNA that has been altered by joining genetic material from two or more different organisms.)

USDA regulations implementing this bill must:

 prohibit claims regarding the safety or quality of food based on whether or not the food is bioengineered, determine the amounts of a bioengineered substance that may be present for a food to be labeled as bioengineered, and establish a process for requesting and granting determinations regarding other factors and conditions under which a food may be labeled as bioengineered. USDA must provide science-based information through education, outreach, and promotion to address consumer acceptance of agricultural biotechnology.

USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services must report to Congress regarding the availability of information for determining whether food is bioengineered or bioengineering was used in the development or production process.

The labeling standard established by this bill preempts state and local laws regarding the labeling of bioengineered or genetically engineered food or seeds.

Date: 2016-03-01
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Biotechnology Food Labeling Uniformity Act

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require food that contains an ingredient from a genetically modified organism (GMO) to be labeled as genetically engineered.

A food is exempt from this requirement if GMO ingredients account for less than 0.9% of the food's weight. A food is not subject to this requirement solely because: (1) a genetically engineered vaccine was used at any point in the production of the food, or (2) it was produced using a processing aid or enzyme that was produced from a GMO.

The labeling requirements of this bill preempt state and local labeling requirements.

Date: 2016-03-02
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act or the PRIME Act 

This bill amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to expand the exemption of custom slaughtering of animals from federal inspection requirements.

Under current law, the exemption applies if the meat is slaughtered for personal, household, guest, and employee uses. The bill expands the exemption to include meat that is:

 slaughtered and prepared at a custom slaughter facility in accordance with the laws of the state where the facility is located; and prepared exclusively for distribution to household consumers in the state and restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, grocery stores, or other establishments in the state that either prepare meals served directly to consumers or sell meat and food products directly to consumers in the state. The bill does not preempt any state law concerning the slaughter of animals or the preparation of carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products at a custom slaughter facility, or the sale of meat or meat food products.

Date: 2016-03-08
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Food Date Labeling Act of 2016

This bill establishes requirements that: (1) address food waste that occurs when people throw out fresh food because of their confusion over the meaning of expiration dates on food labels and whether or not the food is still safe to eat, and (2) standardize quality date and safety date food labels. Producers, manufacturers, distributors, or retailers that place a date label on food packaging of a product (food labelers) must use the phrases "best if used by" to indicate food quality and the phrase "expires on" to warn of food that may be unsafe to eat after a specified date.

While labelers may voluntarily choose to include a quality date on packaging, they must include a safety date on ready-to-eat products.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish guidance for food labelers on how to determine quality dates and safety dates for food products.

No one may prohibit the sale, donation, or use of a product after the quality date for the product has passed.

USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services must educate consumers on the meaning of quality date and safety date food labels.

Date: 2016-05-18
Topic: Agriculture (Food Inspection & Safety)
Subject: Health
Cuba Reconciliation Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (including other specified laws) to repeal the embargo placed upon all trade with Cuba.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to declare the denial of foreign tax credit inapplicable to Cuba.Permits: (1) installation and maintenance of telecommunications equipment and facilities in Cuba, including telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba; and (2) travel to and from Cuba by U.S. citizens or residents.Requires the U.S. Postal Service to provide direct mail service to and from Cuba.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: International affairs
Unfair Chinese Automotive Tariff Equalization Act - Prohibits the importation into the United States of any motor vehicle that is the product of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Extends such prohibition until the President certifies in writing to Congress that the tariff rates imposed by the PRC on motor vehicles that are U.S. products are equal to the rates of duty applicable to similar motor vehicles that are PRC products.

Date: 2007-01-10
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on certain plasma flat panel displays.

Date: 2007-01-12
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Requires additional tariffs to be imposed on products of any nonmarket economy country (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Moldova, the People's Republic of China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and, to the extent that any of their products enter U.S. customs territory, Cuba and North Korea), as well as any other country determined to be a nonmarket economy country until the President certifies to Congress that such country is a market economy country (operating on market principles of cost and pricing structures so that sales of merchandise in such country reflect their fair value). Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit the amounts generated from such additional tariffs into the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund created by the Social Security Act. States that, for purposes of this Act, the People's Republic of China shall not be construed to include Taiwan or any island over which Taiwan exercises jurisdiction.

Date: 2007-01-18
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Free Trade With Cuba Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the embargo on trade with Cuba. Prohibits the exercise by the President with respect to Cuba of certain authorities conferred by the Trading With the Enemy Act and exercised on July 1, 1977, as a result of a specified national emergency. Declares that any prohibition on exports to Cuba under the Export Administration Act of 1979 shall cease to be effective. Authorizes the President to impose export controls with respect to Cuba and exercise certain authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act only on account of an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security that did not exist before enactment of this Act. Repeals: (1) the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992; (2) the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996; (3) the prohibition under the Food Security Act of 1985 against allocation of the annual sugar quota to any country unless its officials verify that it does not import for reexport to the United States any sugar produced in Cuba; and (4) the prohibition under the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 on transactions or payments respecting certain U.S. intellectual property. Amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism subject to agricultural and medical export restrictions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the denial of foreign tax credit with respect to Cuba. Authorizes common carriers to install and repair telecommunications equipment and facilities in Cuba, and otherwise provide telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba. Prohibits regulation or banning of travel to and from Cuba by U.S. citizens or residents, or of any transactions incident to travel. Directs the U.S. Postal Service to provide direct mail service to and from Cuba. Urges the President to take all necessary steps to conduct negotiations with the Government of Cuba to: (1) settle claims of U.S. nationals against Cuba for the taking of property; and (2) secure protection of internationally recognized human rights.

Date: 2007-01-22
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: International affairs
Trade Law Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise factors that the International Trade Commission (ITC) must consider in making material injury determinations in countervailing duty and antidumping duty proceedings. Repeals the one-year monitoring program for cases involving persistent dumping. Requires initiation of an expedited antidumping duty investigation in such cases. Modifies certain factors used to value freight for imputs in nonmarket economy country antidumping calculations. Requires enactment of a joint resolution by Congress before revocation of a foreign country as a nonmarket economy country. (Currently, the administering authority has power to make such a revocation without prior congressional approval.) Applies countervailing duty provisions to nonmarket economy countries. Requires the imposition of an antidumping duty on imported merchandise that is made up (downstream dumping) of one or more depressed-price products (a product purchased at a price that is lower than the generally available price of the product in the country of manufacture or at a price that is lower due to subsidies or sales at below foreign market for such product) if a U.S. industry producing a product used in the manufacture of such merchandise has been materially injured or threatened with material injury or the establishment of such industry has been materially retarded. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to change the standard for determining if an imported product is harming domestic producers by requiring a showing that the product causes or threatens to cause serious injury. (Current law requires a product to be a substantial cause of injury). Amends the Trade Act of 2002 to: (1) urge the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to reject any trade agreement proposal, whether through the World Trade Organization (WTO) or with any country, that would weaken existing U.S. trade remedy laws; and (2) increase the President's reporting duties under such Act. Congressional Advisory Commission on WTO Dispute Settlement Act - Establishes the Congressional Advisory Commission on WTO Dispute Settlement. Makes permanent a certain steel import licensing and monitoring program. Applies the amendments made by this Act to goods from Canada and Mexico. Requires participation in WTO consultations and panel proceedings of certain private U.S. persons supportive of the government's position before a dispute settlement panel or Appellate Body of the WTO where the USTR seeks to: (1) enforce U.S. rights under a multilateral trade agreement; or (2) defend a challenged action or determination of the U.S. government.

Date: 2007-01-29
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Uruguay Round Agreements Act with respect to the rules of origin for certain textile and apparel products. Makes such amendments applicable to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the date that is 15 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2007-02-06
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to allow U.S. manufacturers that use products subject to countervailing or antidumping duty proceedings or use domestic like products (industrial users) to participate in such proceedings. Requires the U.S. International Trade Commission, when deciding whether an antidumping or countervailing duty should be imposed or continued, to weigh harm to industrial users from such imposition or continuation, as well as (under current law) the potential benefits to the industry in the United States materially injured or threatened with material injury by a foreign countervailing subsidy.

Date: 2007-02-16
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Nonmarket Economy Trade Remedy Act of 2007 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to apply countervailing duties to nonmarket economies. Authorizes the use of alternative methodologies in determining whether a subsidy is countervailable with respect to the People's Republic of China (PRC). Requires congressional approval for revocation of nonmarket economy country determinations made by the administering authority. Requires a United States International Trade Commission study of how the PRC uses government intervention to promote investment, employment, and exports.

Date: 2007-02-28
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise the prohibition on importing convict-made goods into the United States to make it unlawful to: (1) import into, or export from, the United States any sweatshop good; or (2) introduce into commerce, sell, trade, or advertise in commerce, offer to sell, or transport or distribute in U.S. commerce, any sweatshop good. Grants the President, for reasons of national interest, authority to recommend waiver of the applications set forth in this Act in connection with the goods of any country with respect to one or more of the principles and rights defined in this Act as a core labor standard. Sets forth procedures for consideration of such a waiver. Makes it unlawful for persons to introduce into commerce, sell, trade, or advertise in commerce, offer to sell or transport or distribute in commerce any sweatshop good. Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce this prohibition as if it were an unfair or deceptive act or practice proscribed under the Federal Trade Commission Act. Allows specified persons with standing to bring a civil action in U.S. district courts against sellers of goods, wares, articles, or merchandise on grounds of a violation of such prohibition. Lists those with standing. Prohibits executive agencies and the Armed Forces from entering into procurement contracts for sweatshop goods. Prohibits anything in this Act from being construed to preempt a state from regulating labor standards required in the mining, production, or manufacture of merchandise purchased by the state.

Date: 2007-04-18
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise the prohibition on importing convict-made goods into the United States to make it unlawful to: (1) import into, or export from, the United States any sweatshop good; or (2) introduce into commerce, sell, trade, or advertise in commerce, offer to sell, or transport or distribute in U.S. commerce, any sweatshop good. Grants the President, for reasons of national interest, authority to recommend waiver of the applications set forth in this Act in connection with the goods of any country with respect to one or more of the principles and rights defined in this Act as a core labor standard. Sets forth procedures for consideration of such a waiver. Makes it unlawful for persons to introduce into commerce, sell, trade, or advertise in commerce, offer to sell or transport or distribute in commerce any sweatshop good. Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce this prohibition as if it were an unfair or deceptive act or practice proscribed under the Federal Trade Commission Act. Allows specified persons with standing to bring a civil action in U.S. district courts against sellers of goods, wares, articles, or merchandise on grounds of a violation of such prohibition. Prohibits executive agencies and the Armed Forces from entering into procurement contracts for sweatshop goods. Prohibits anything in this Act from being construed to preempt a state from regulating labor standards required in the mining, production, or manufacture of merchandise purchased by the state.

Date: 2007-04-23
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on certain acrylic fiber tow.

Date: 2007-05-23
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Genuine American Flag Act - Prohibits the importation for sale of foreign-made flags of the United States of America (regardless of size and whether or not in compliance with the standard proportions prescribed by Executive order).

Date: 2007-07-11
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Insular Areas Trade Enhancement Act - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to specifically provide for duty-free treatment of certain tuna and textile and apparel imported directly from U.S. insular possessions.

Date: 2007-07-24
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on butanedioic acid, dimethylester, polymer with 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidine ethanol.

Date: 2007-08-01
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on a mixture of 1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triamine,N,N'-[1,2-ethane-diyl-bis [ [ [4,6-bis-[butyl (1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)amino]-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl] imino]-3,1-propanediyl] ] bis[N',N'- dibutyl-N',N'-bis(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)- and Butanedioic acid, dimethylester polymer with 4-hyroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperdine ethanol.

Date: 2007-08-01
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Declares that Congress finds that the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States was amended on February 3, 2007, to provide that certain high-density fiberboard shall include laminate boards bonded in whole or in part, or impregnated, with synthetic resins. Applies such amendment retroactively to certain entries.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Drawback Simplification Act of 2007 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise eligibility requirements for the drawback (refund) of duties on merchandise exported from the United States.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Stop Importing Gum Arabic from the Genocidal Government of Sudan Act - Amends the Tariff Suspension and Trade Act of 2000 to prohibit the importation of gum Arabic from Sudan.

Date: 2007-08-04
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on phosphoric acid, lanthanum salt, cerium terbium-doped.

Date: 2007-10-02
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on standard grade ferroniobium.

Date: 2007-10-18
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Affordable Footwear Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the elimination of duty on certain imported footwear would provide significant benefit to U.S. consumers, particularly lower-income families. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for the duty-free treatment of certain footwear (including children's shoes) made of rubber or plastics that are imported into the United States. Amends the Caribbean Basic Economic Recovery Act to provide footwear imported directly from Haiti into the United States with the same preferential treatment that is provided to certain imported footwear under the Dominican Republic-Central American-United States Free Trade Agreement.

Date: 2007-10-23
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on certain reusable grocery bags.

Date: 2007-10-25
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for the duty treatment of certain non-knit mechanics' work gloves. Applies to such gloves the same staged rate reductions as accorded certain other gloves, mittens, and mitts used in sports.

Date: 2007-10-25
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on certain electronic dimming ballasts with a three wire control scheme.

Date: 2007-11-08
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to reduce temporarily the duty on triethylene glycol bisY3-(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl) propionate?.

Date: 2007-12-04
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on yttrium oxides having a purity of at least 99.9 percent.

Date: 2007-12-05
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on certain color video monitors.

Date: 2007-12-06
Topic: Foreign Trade (Tariff & Imports)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance