COMMITTEE on WAYS and MEANS

Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI), Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim McDermott (D-WA) announced the commencement of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) process on March 30, 2012, requiring Members to introduce bills by April 30, 2012.  Due to the overwhelming Member interest in participating in the process, the Committee subsequently informed Members that they would meet the April 30 deadline if their draft bills were submitted to Legislative Counsel by 3:00 p.m. on April 30 and then introduced and submitted to the Ways and Means Committee online MTB submission process no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 16, 2012.  

To ensure the highest degree of transparency, the Committee announced on May 24 that it would accept public comments on the submitted bills through June 22, 2012. Because of the sheer number of bills that have been submitted to the Committee’s MTB process, the Committee has continued to receive public comments on the submitted bills to date and, in keeping with the Committee’s commitment to transparency, these comments are posted on the Committee website and will continue to be posted over the next few weeks.  Members and the public are advised to check the Committee’s website frequently to be aware of all public comments on submitted bills.

Other important parts of the MTB process have also progressed over the past few months.  The independent International Trade Commission (ITC) has completed its review of the submitted bills, has provided reports to the Committee, and has posted the reports on its own website.  The reports are now also available on the Committee’s website.  The Department of Commerce, which spearheads the review of the submitted bills by the Administration, has completed its review of the submitted bills and has provided comments to the Committee. The comments are now also available on the Committee’s website.

Click here for the table of submitted bills, public comments, ITC Congressional Bill Reports, and Administration comments received by the Committee. Members are also advised to contact the Department of Commerce immediately (i.e., by November 19th, 2012) if they have questions or concerns with these comments.  Members are also advised to simultaneously contact Committee staff regarding their questions or concerns.  Members should note that Commerce has posted on its website the “Administration’s Procedures for Reconsidering Positions during the 112th Congress,” which can be found here.