U.S. CONGRESS’ APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS "MUSCLE-BOUND"

   Members of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America were presented a somewhat gloomy picture for U.S. Customs automation funding in 2000.
   Customs is not expected to see any funding to build its future
automation system, the Automated Commercial Environment, before 2001. However, the agency has requested $25 million to keep its ACE contract process alive through the beginning of next year.
   Congressional leaders and staffers blame a "muscle-bound" appropriations process for not being able to accomplish some of the funding and legislative demands of the industry this year.
   "There’s not a soul in this town that has an idea of how to solve our
appropriations problems," said Rep. Sandy Levin, D-Mich., to the NCBFAA at its annual government affairs conference in Washington this week.
   The NCBFAA has received assurance from Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., that the House Appropriations Committee will make funding available for ACE in 2001.
   Senate Finance Committee has voiced similar support to fund ACE.
"Customs has to be a priority," said Grant Aldonas, chief international
trade counsel for Senate Finance.
   There may be hope for some trade legislation to pass before the end of the year. Senate Finance is putting together a trade bill that covers
tariff preference programs to Africa and the Caribbean, trade adjustment assistance and renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences for the next five years.