Senate Passes Trade Facilitation and Enforcement Act

By a vote of 75-20, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that will revise Customs and Border protection, strengthen trade enforcement, and permanently prohibit state and local taxation of internet access.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill in December 2015. Now it awaits the president’s signature before it is put into law.

Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) released the following statement following the Senate’s vote:

This bill modernizes our trade policies, and it is a victory for manufacturing in America and in my home state of Georgia, which is home to the world’s busiest airport and to two deep-water ports. Modern, streamlined trade enforcement and facilitation mechanisms will help our customs agents. The bill also strengthens our country’s ability to defend American producers from unfair trade practices and barriers. Finally, trade agreements should never be used as an avenue to change our nation’s immigration laws, and this legislation will prevent that from occurring.

I was proud to serve as a Senate negotiator on this important legislation to ensure the needs of hardworking Americans were best represented.

The bill addresses many measures through which the customs and trade system may be improved, including: preventing trade agreements from changing immigration laws, amending the Trade Promotion Authority Act, and addressing currency manipulation.