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HR 4979 115th Congress House Foreign Trade and International Finance Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits Congressional oversight Customs enforcement Tariffs User charges and fees

To extend the Generalized System of Preferences and to make technical changes to the competitive need limitations provision of the program.

Introduced: February 8, 2018 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 14, 2018
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Feb 13, 2018
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 400 - 2 (Roll no. 71). (text: CR H1100)
Feb 13, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 13, 2018
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1104-1105)
Feb 13, 2018
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Feb 13, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4979.
Feb 13, 2018
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1100-1103)
Feb 13, 2018
Mr. Reichert moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Feb 13, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Feb 8, 2018
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Feb 8, 2018
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Feb 13, 2018 House · vote #71 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 400–2 See who voted →
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(Sec. 1) This bill extends the Generalized System of Preferences (a U.S. trade preference program that provides duty-free access to imports on products from certain developing countries) through 2020.

The U.S. Trade Representative, within one year of this bill's enactment and annually thereafter through December 31, 2020, must report to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee on efforts to ensure that countries designated as beneficiary developing countries under the Trade Act of 1974 are meeting the eligibility criteria set forth in that Act.

(Sec. 2) The Trade Act of 1974 is amended to modify the deadline for the review process with respect to the competitive needs limitation. (The competitive need limitation terminates duty-free treatment with respect to articles from a beneficiary developing country if certain import limits are exceeded.)

(Sec. 3) The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 is amended to extend through August 1, 2027, the authority for customs user fees for the processing of merchandise formally entered or released into the United States.

What's happening now February 14, 2018

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • HR 4068 Related bill Competitive Need Limitations Modernization Act of 2017
  • S 2036 Related bill Competitive Need Limitations Modernization Act of 2017
  • HR 1625 Related bill Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Democratic 1 Republican 2
Paulsen, Erik
· Feb 13, 2018
Curbelo, Carlos
· Feb 8, 2018
 R
Kelly, Mike
Pennsylvania · Feb 8, 2018
Meehan, Patrick
· Feb 8, 2018
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Feb 8, 2018
 R
Smith, Adrian
Nebraska · Feb 8, 2018
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4979: To extend the Generalized System of Preferences and to make technical changes to the competitive need limitations provision of the program.. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4979/
MLA
"H.R. 4979: To extend the Generalized System of Preferences and to make technical changes to the competitive need limitations provision of the program.." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4979/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4979, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4979/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4979: To extend the Generalized System of Preferences and to make technical changes to the competitive need limitations provision of the program.](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4979/)
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