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WASHINGTON – Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., today voted in favor of bipartisan legislation that will strengthen the U.S. economy by eliminating unnecessary taxes that drive up the cost of American-made goods and services.

“Manufacturing is vital to North Carolina’s 5th District and I am committed to ensuring that the industry can compete fairly at home and abroad,” said Foxx. “A number of North Carolina businesses utilize tariff reductions to decrease costs, and this legislation helps create an economic environment in which those businesses can create jobs and thrive in the global marketplace.”

H.R. 4923, the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016, creates an open and transparent process for the House to consider manufacturing tax breaks through the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). Through the MTB process, Congress temporarily suspends or reduces tariffs for certain imported resources and materials that are not made in the United States.

Under the new process, local businesses will petition the independent, non-partisan International Trade Commission and explain their need for a specific tariff reduction or suspension. After the panel receives these petitions, it will solicit comments from the public and the administration.

Following analysis of the petition, the International Trade Commission will issue a public report to Congress with its recommendations regarding products that meet the MTB standards. The House Ways and Means Committee will examine the panel’s recommendations and draft a MTB proposal. As required by House rules, the committee must certify that there are no spending earmarks and publish a list of any Limited Tariff Benefits.

While the committee can exclude products from its final proposal, it cannot add products that were not recommended by the commission. Congress then will consider the MTB within existing rules.

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U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx represents North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District and is the elected Republican Conference Secretary. Dr. Foxx is the chair of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and serves as Vice Chair of the House Rules Committee.