SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE PROPOSES $200 MILLION FOR ACE

SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE PROPOSES $200 MILLION FOR ACE    The U.S. Senate Budget Committee has proposed a $200-million in its budget instructions to the Senate Appropriations Committee to be used for development of Customs' Automated Commercial Environment.
   The $200 million won't be tied to an industry user fee, but may come out of the $800 million generated annually by the Merchandise Processing Fee.
   Automakers and the Coalition for Customs Automation Funding are pushing congressional leaders for funding for Customs' new system in fiscal 2001.
   The coalition has turned its efforts to the House Budget Committee, where Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., may try to offer specific language calling for a line item in the House budget instructions.
   The budget committees set spending caps that the Senate and House appropriators must follow, the coalition said.