NCTO STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015

NCTO STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2015

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) praises Senate passage of legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 establishes congressional negotiating objectives and institutes parameters associated with the final congressional review of international trade agreements currently being negotiated by the U.S. government.

Additionally, TPA formalizes consultation mechanisms between Congress and the Executive Branch on trade agreements as they are being negotiated. It is critical that the Executive Branch work closely with Congress to develop trade agreements that fully incorporate the interests of American textile workers and the middle class. The U.S. textile and apparel industry employs 499,500 hard working Americans in the United States. It is imperative that these agreements are constructed in a balanced and fair manner in order to help boost American exports, create jobs, and strengthen the U.S. economy.

“We are pleased to continue to lend our support to the renewal of Trade Promotion Authority,” stated NCTO President Augustine Tantillo. “We commend the Senate for passing a clean bill that did not include provisions damaging to domestic job growth, manufacturing, and the U.S. textile industry as a whole. We encourage the House to follow the Senate’s lead and pass a clean TPA bill without amendments that hurt domestic textile workers.”

NCTO Statement on House Passage of FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735)

NCTO Statement on House Passage of FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735)

NCTO applauds the action taken by the House of Representatives earlier today in passing the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1735). The Defense Authorization bill contained important language supporting the Berry Amendment authored by Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) (Amendment #74, part of En Bloc Amendment #5). NCTO commends Congressman McGovern for offering this amendment that ensures that a provision in Section 854 of H.R. 1735 would not seriously harm the U.S. textile, apparel, and footwear industry. Section 854 proposes to increase the Simplified Acquisition Threshold procedure (SAT) from $150,000 to $500,000 meaning that contracts falling below the SAT level would not be subject to the Berry Amendment. The McGovern amendment, however, exempted Berry contracts from this increased SAT threshold and instead mandates that the current $150,000 threshold level remain in place for all textile and apparel purchases under Berry.

Among other things, the Berry Amendment ensures that our warfighters stay protected in domestically produced personal protective equipment. The Berry Amendment has spurred substantial research, development and innovation that ensures that America’s warfighters have the most advanced and effective textile materials available. In addition, Berry helps to spur U.S. manufacturing, investment, employment, and exports. It is imperative that Congress preserve the integrity of the Berry Amendment through policies like Congressman McGovern’s amendment. Doing so will ensure the highest level of performance and safety for our U.S. military.

5/15/2015

NCTO Statement on Trade Legislation Passed by the Senate Today (5/14/2015)

NCTO Statement on Trade Legislation Passed by the Senate Today

NCTO commends the Senate for earlier today passing two important pieces of trade legislation H.R. 1295 and H.R. 644, addressing trade preference programs and customs enforcement. As the Senate now moves to consider another trade package including Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), NCTO urges the chamber to pass a clean TPA bill without harmful amendments that will damage U.S. textile jobs, manufacturing, and exports.

5/14/2015