{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-sewell-introduces-bipartisan-caribbean-trade-bill-0", "Rep. Sewell Introduces Bipartisan Caribbean Trade Bill", "2017-09-27", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On Wednesday, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) joined Republican Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) to introduce the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (H.R. 3849) to reauthorize the U.S. Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) until 2030. Since 2000, CBTPA has allowed for the duty- and quota-free import of goods from Caribbean countries made with U.S. yarns, fabrics, and threads.\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation to promote U.S. trade with Caribbean island countries is needed as many islands begin to recover from the devastation of recent hurricanes,\u201d said Rep. Terri Sewell. \u201cEconomic growth in Alabama is one of my top priorities, and this bill represents a great opportunity to expand my home state\u2019s trade with Caribbean basin countries. Reauthorizing CBTPA until 2030 and improving trade with countries like Haiti encourages future investment, promotes job creation, and lays the foundation for economic development for decades to come. Since coming to Congress, I\u2019ve worked to build a stronger, more competitive U.S. economy and today\u2019s bill takes a big step towards that goal.\u201d\nBackground information on the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act:\nThe Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (H.R. 3849) would reauthorize the U.S. Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) until 2030, giving duty and quota-free access to apparel products manufactured in certain Caribbean countries.\u00a0 In return, CBTPA requires that Caribbean Basin countries use U.S. formed yarns, fabrics, and thread.\u00a0 Eligible CBTPA countries include Barbados, Belize, Curacao, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.\nCBTPA works in conjunction with the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) to facilitate the development of 17 independent countries of the Caribbean Basin region.\u00a0 For these two preferential trade programs to be effective, both CBTPA and CBERA must be authorized. Eligible CBERA countries include Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.\n###  Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama\u2019s 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.", 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://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-sewell-introduces-bipartisan-caribbean-trade-bill-0"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.519633922725916, "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"}