Trade Policy and Reorganization Act of 1983
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Trade Policy and Reorganization Act of 1983 - Establishes the Department of Trade and Industry to be administered by a Secretary of Trade and Industry (the Secretary). Directs the Secretary, among other things, to: (1) coordinate U.S. policies for promoting beneficial international trade relationships; (2) negotiate U.S. international trade agreements; (3) protect American industry, agriculture, and labor from unfair or injurious foreign competition; (4) develop trade monitoring systems; and (5) develop and implement U.S. policies concerning foreign investments. Directs the Secretary to consult with the heads of other Federal agencies on methods of ensuring that a National Industrial Strategy Policy is developed and implemented. Transfers to the Secretary all international trade and investment functions of the: (1) U.S. Trade Representative; (2) Secretary of Commerce; and (3) Director of the U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency. Transfers to the Secretary the customs functions of the Secretary of the Treasury. Transfers to the Department of Trade and Industry the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. Customs Service. Amends the Trade Expansion Act to establish a Trade Policy Committee, chaired by the President, to assist the President in carrying out the functions vested in the President relating to trade agreements and import relief (replaces an interagency trade organization). Designates the Secretary as Vice Chairman and specifies other committee members. Establishes a National Industrial Strategy Subcommittee to advise the Secretary on methods of improving U.S. industrial competitiveness. Establishes a Trade Negotiating Subcommittee to advise the Secretary on management of international trade and investment. Designates the Secretary as the President's chief spokesman on trade and requires the Secretary to report directly to the President on all trade policy matters. Sets forth administrative provisions applicable to the Department of Trade and Industry. Directs the Secretary to submit a report annually to the President for submission to the Congress on the Department's activities. Provides for the transfer of personnel, assets, records, and funding to correspond with the transfers of functions, offices, and agencies made by this Act. Terminates: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the International Trade Administration; (3) the Bureau of Industrial Economics; (4) the Bureau of Economic Analysis; (5) the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration; and (6) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Makes certain technical and conforming amendments to specified Acts so that the provisions of such Acts reflect the executive reorganization made by this Act. Designates the Secretary as the chief representative of the United States for trade negotiation. Requires the Secretary to: (1) report directly to the President and the Congress and to be responsible to both for the administration of trade agreements under this Act and other specified Acts; (2) advise the President and Congress on matters related to trade agreement programs; and (3) be responsible for specified reports to Congress and for such other functions as the President may direct. Establishes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of the Census as independent agencies in the executive branch of the Government. Transfers the National Bureau of Standards to the National Science Foundation. Transfers the Economic Development Corporation to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Transfers the Minority Business Development Agency to the Small Business Administration.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on June 30, 1983. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on July 8, 1983: Referred to Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 98th Congress (1983-84), 623 of the 10,560 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 5.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
BEN ERDREICH (D-AL) introduced it on June 30, 1983. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on June 30, 1983, 15779 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 15771 days ago, on July 8, 1983.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 98th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1985 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers