{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://reichert.house.gov/press-release/case-you-missed-it-business-leaders-confirm-new-tariff-relief-bill-process-win", "In Case You Missed It: Business Leaders Confirm: New Tariff Relief Bill Process a Win for American Workers, U.S. Economy", "2017-10-27", "2017", "2017-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dave Reichert", "R000578", "reichert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This week, the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA), held a\u00a0hearing\u00a0to\u00a0discuss\u00a0the benefits of providing tariff relief to U.S. manufacturers and to\u00a0examine the\u00a0new and transparent process\u00a0for the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) \u2013 legislation that helps U.S. manufacturers compete globally and create more jobs at home.\nFor decades, Congress has passed MTBs to temporarily reduce or suspend tariffs on certain imported products that are not produced in the United States. This legislation lowers the cost of imports, boosting American manufacturers\u2019 competitiveness and ultimately lowering prices for consumers.\nIn 2016, the Ways and Means Committee led a bipartisan effort to update the process for considering temporary tariff reductions and suspensions through the\u00a0American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016\u00a0(AMCA). The AMCA passed both chambers with near unanimous support and was signed into law in May\u00a02016.\nAs Chairman Reichert said:\n\u201cUnder the new MTB process, companies petition the independent, non-partisan International Trade Commission\u00a0\u2013 not individual Members of Congress \u2013 for tariff relief. The new process is\u00a0open and transparent, and establishes an opportunity for public comment. It\u00a0provides predictability for our businesses while complying with House rules.\u201d\nThe Subcommittee heard from business leaders from across the country about the positive impact this updated MTB process is having on their companies.\nWhen asked what her company will do with the savings and revenues generated from tariff relief, Gowan Agricultural Relations Director Cindy Smith said that the profits go to where they should \u2013 the workers:\n\u201cWe have a profit sharing program with our employees \u2013 700 employees. Anything I could do to reduce my costs benefits my employees. It allows me to continue to provide healthcare coverage. It allows me to pay bonuses. It allows us to give raises.\u201d\nMichael Ratchford, Government Relations Associate at technology company W.L. Gore & Associates, praised\u00a0the new MTB process as a fair and transparent way for U.S. businesses to seek needed tariff relief:\n\u201cThe AMCA creates an open process where stakeholders and the public can monitor filed petitions, comment, and better understand how petitions are evaluated. The new MTB process is significantly more transparent than previous iterations and ensures that stakeholders have ample opportunity to be actively involved during the vetting process, before being considered by Congress.\u201d\nEd McAssey, Chief Operating Officer of Lasko Products headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, explained how\u00a0the MTB will help\u00a0Lasko and its employees\u00a0compete on a level playing field with\u00a0Chinese\u00a0manufacturers:\n\u201cWe are in a business of pennies and can sometimes lose a fan sale to overseas competitors due to a cost differential of 20 to 30 cents. The\u00a0duty relief provided by the MTB on motor assemblies and related parts enables us to compete\u00a0with suppliers in China who do not incur the costs of livable wages, health insurance, and retirement contributions that we provide to our employees.\u201d\nThroughout the hearing, Members talked about the success of the updated MTB process\u00a0and the benefits that the recommended tariff relief will have on their states.\nRep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) told a story about Topeka-based company, Goodyear Tires. Goodyear is seeking relief through the new MTB process for certain tire molds that are not produced anywhere in the United States. The ITC recommended that these molds be included in MTB legislation, which would allow Goodyear to import them without having to incur a pointless tariff, keeping the company globally competitive and employing hundreds of hardworking Kansans.\nThe Congresswoman said:\n\u201cThis new MTB process \u2026 [is] increasing our competitiveness abroad while creating and saving jobs here at home.\u201d\nRep. George Holding (R-NC) talked about the economic impact that the\u00a0MTB\u00a0will have\u00a0in North Carolina:\n\u201cNorth Carolina has more MTBs recommended by the ITC than any other state. Of the 1,800 petitions of the ITC, over 330 of those were submitted by North Carolina businesses. Those petitions estimate\u00a0after tax savings of $70 million in 2018 alone.\u00a0\nRep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) acknowledged that the MTB is necessary and has had tremendous impacts on American businesses.\u00a0With respect to the broader trade agenda, Mr. Paulsen asked the panelists:\n\u201cDo you believe that it is important for the United States to maintain its existing trade agreements and to also work on negotiating additional agreements?\u201d\nMs. Smith responded:\n\u201cWe are totally supportive of anything that lets U.S. growers sell their products overseas. So I would say:\u00a0yes, the trade agreements we have in place are very critical for agriculture. Any work we do on trade agreements we should first look at, you know, what is the impact to U.S. business, right, and make sure we do no harm to U.S. business.\u201d\nChairman Reichert closed the hearing by emphatically committing to quick\u00a0action to\u00a0implement the ITC\u2019s recommendations for tariff relief that U.S. manufacturers\u00a0need to better\u00a0compete around the world:\n\u201c[Miscellaneous Tariff Bills] provide so much for, not only your companies, but the revenue you generate.\u00a0 It goes back into your companies to your employees and then even out into the community and \u2026 finally to the benefit of U.S. consumers for less expensive products.\u00a0This is a priority for us to complete this year, and its timely renewal is critical.\u201d\nWays and Means Committee is committed to moving swiftly on legislation to deliver tariff relief to U.S. businesses and consumers.\nCLICK HERE\u00a0to learn more about this week's hearing.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://reichert.house.gov/press-release/case-you-missed-it-business-leaders-confirm-new-tariff-relief-bill-process-win"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.149977022781968, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}