Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUCHA). Oversight hearing held September 14, 1988. Printed, Serial No. 100-234.

Pump Labeling. Oversight hearing on the need for legislation mandating a national gasoline pump labeling law. Hearing held September 27, 1988. Printed, Serial No. 100-235.

Natural Gas Pipeline Proposals for the Northeast. Oversight hearing on various proposals for new natural gas pipelines in the Northeast. Hearing held October 5, 1988. Printed, Serial No. 100238.

None.

SUBCOMMITTEE PRINTS

TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY REFORM ACT OF 1987 Public Law 100-418 (H.R. 3, H.R. 4848)

To enhance the competitiveness of American industry, and for other purposes.

Summary

H.R. 3 is a comprehensive trade bill which makes extensive changes in U.S. trade law. It is a response to the deteriorating trade position of the United States due in part to the unwarranted and unfair trade practices of some of our trading partners.

Legislative history

On January 6, 1987, Mr. Gephardt introduced H.R. 3. The Subcommittee held five days of hearings (February 25, March 3, 5, 10 and 11, 1987) on H.R. 3 and other trade proposals, including H.R. 13, H.R. 15, H.R. 268 and H.R. 270. Testimony was received from the following witnesses: George N. Hatsopoulos, Chairman and President, Thermo Electron Corporation (Member, American Business Conference Board of Directors); William W. Boeschenstein, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation; Paul R. Huard, Vice President for Taxation and Fiscal Policy, National Association of Manufacturers; F.M. Scherer, Department of Economics, Swarthmore College; J. Paul Pomeroy, Chairman of the Board, Southwest Supply Company; Dan Frantzen, President, Stone Petroleum Company; The Honorable

Bruce Smart, Under Secretary for International Trade, Department of Commerce (DOC); Pat Choate, Office of Policy Analysis, TRW; William Lilley III, President, American Business Conference; Robert McNeill, Executive Vice Chairman, Emergency Committee for American Trade; Julius Katz, The Consultants International Group, Inc. (representing the American Association of Exporters and Importers); John M. Andrews, President and Chief Executive Officer, American National Soda Ash Corporation; Kenneth Y. Millian, Vice President and Director of Government Relations, W.R. Grace and Company (representing the Labor-Industry Coalition for International Trade); Brian Turner, Director of Legislation and Economic Policy, Industrial Union Department, AFL-CIO, (representing the Labor-Industry Coalition for International Trade); Doreen Brown, President, Consumers for World Trade; Rudy Oswald, Chief Economist, AFL-CIO; The Honorable Mark Fowler, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission; Bruce Wilson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative; Edward D. McKeever, Vice President, Asia, Pacific, and the Americas, AT&T International; John T. McDonnell, Group Vice President, Information and Telecommunications Technologies Group, Electronic Industries Association; Morton Bahr, President, Communications Workers of America; Ronald Stowe, Vice President for Washington Operations, Pacific Telesis; John Thorne, Office of General Counsel, Ameritech; Edwin B. Spievak, President, North American Telecommunications Association; Dr. Norman R. Augustine, President and Chief Operating Officer, Martin Marietta Corporation; Dr. Ronald L. Kerber, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Advanced Technology; Dr. Alexander Lidow, Executive Vice President for Manufacturing and Technology, International Rectifier Corporation, (representing the Semiconductor Industry Association); Dr. Frank Press, President, National Academy of Sciences; Eric Garfinkel, Partner, Anderson, Hibey, Nauheim and Blair, (representing the Communications Industry Association of Japan); Senator Frank R. Murkowski; Harry L. Freeman, Executive Vice President, American Express Company; The Honorable H.P. Goldfield, Assistant Secretary for Trade Development, DOC; Lamar Smith, Chief Economist and Director of Policy Development, American Bankers Association; Clyde V. Prestowitz, Former Counsel to the Secretary of Commerce, Fellow, Wilson Center; Dr. Joseph A. Boyd, Chairman, Harris Corporation; and Richard A. Rivers, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld (representing the Coalition for Services).

On March 17 and 18, 1987, the Subcommittee considered provisions of H.R. 3 under its jurisdiction. The bill was reported, amended, to the full Committee. On March 24 and 25, 1987, the Committee considered provisions of H.R. 3 under its jurisdiction. The bill was reported, amended, to the House (H. Rept. 100-40, Part 2, filed April 6, 1987).

On June 28, 29 and 30, 1987, the House considered H.R. 3. On June 30, 1987, the bill was forwarded, amended, to the Senate by a recorded vote: 290-137.

During Senate consideration, the Senate Majority Leader offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 3, which was accepted. On July 21, 1987, H.R. 3 passed the Senate, amended. On

August 5, the Senate requested a conference to resolve differences between the two versions of H.R. 3.

On October 20, 1987, the Subcommittee held an informational hearing on Section 905, Title IX of H.R. 3 (the House-passed version). The hearing focused on increased foreign ownership of U.S. gold producing firms. Testimony was received from Representative Mickey Leland; The Honorable J. Michael Farren, Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, DOC; T. Boone Pickens, Jr., General Partner, Mesa Limited Partnership, Chairman and Founder, United Shareholders Association; Richard Leather, Executive Vice President, Newmont Mining Corporation; and Robert McNeill, Executive Vice Chairman, Emergency Committee for American Trade.

On April 20, 1988, conference report 100-576 was filed in the House. The House agreed to the report on April 21, 1988, and on April 27, 1988, the Senate agreed to the report.

On May 24, 1988, the President vetoed the legislation. On May 24, 1988, the House overrode the veto by a recorded vote: 308-113, but it was sustained in the Senate by a recorded vote: 61-37.

Similar legislation, H.R. 4848, was introduced by Mr. Rostenkowski on June 16, 1988. This legislation passed the House on July 13, 1988, and passed the Senate on August 3, 1988. The president signed H.R. 4848 on August 23, 1988 (P.L. 100-418).

FEDERAL PRODUCTS LIABILITY REFORM

(H.R. 1115)

To amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to establish uniform safety standards.

Summary

Currently, rules for determining a manufacturer's or seller's liability for harm caused by defective products is governed by state law. Thus, the standards for product liability actions may vary from state to state. H.R. 1115 would eliminate some differences between state product liability laws by establishing uniform Federal product liability standards, which apply to most product liability actions. The Federal standards would supersede many of the state product liability laws.

Legislative history

On February 18, 1987, Mr. Richardson introduced H.R. 1115. The Subcommittee held seven hearings on product liability issues: May 5, 1987-General Overview; May 20, 1987-Punitive Damages; June 18, 1987-Joint and Several Liability; July 9, 1987-Impact of Federal Product Liability Reform on the General Aviation Industry; July 21, 1987-Workplace Safety; August 6, 1987-Government Standards and State-of-the-Art Defense; and October 7, 1987-Product Liability Reform and the Affordability and Availability of Product Liability Insurance. Witnesses included academics, manufacturers, labor representatives, and representatives of consumer groups. On November 18, 19 and 20, and on December 3 and 8, 1987, the Subcommittee considered H.R. 1115, accepting an amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Richardson. H.R. 1115 was