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US Senate passes bill that North Carolina's textile industry opposes

Saturday, December 9, 2006

WASHINGTON ? Early this morning, the Senate passed 79-9 a bill that critics fear will harm North Carolina's textile industry.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., who had blocked consideration of the bill using parliamentary rules earlier in the week, voted in favor of the measure after receiving assurances from Democratic leaders they would address her concerns next year.

"(They) have agreed there are going to be hearings," Dole said in a brief interview after the vote.

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., voted against the bill. He could not be reached for comment after the vote.

The bill was a top priority for Republican leaders in the waning days of their control of Congress. Democrats, as well as some Republicans, criticized House and Senate leaders from bringing the bill to the floor without any legislative hearings on the matter.

The House passed the measure Friday night, 212-184. The bill now goes to the president for his signature.

Dole said under the agreement with incoming House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and incoming Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., officials from U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection will be brought in sometime in 2007 to discuss how the origin of products imported from Haiti will be determined.

Product origin was a key concern of textile manufactures in the state, many of whom had lobbied hard against the bill. They are worried that Chinese materials will flood the Haitian market at a reduced rate, making American materials a costlier alternative