To amend General Note 3(a)(iv) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to deny special tariff treatment to goods of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands unless certain conditions are met, to require the Secretary of Labor to assign a full-time resident compliance officer to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

See H.R.2264.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 18, 1993

Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to subject goods imported from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to column one rates of the tariff schedule (and deny them labeling as having been manufactured in the United States) unless the Commonwealth establishes that: (1) the labor rate paid to the workers producing such goods is greater than or equal to the prevailing U.S. minimum wage rate; and (2) not less than 50 percent of the direct labor cost of producing such goods is paid to Commonwealth residents. Requires the Secretary of Labor to assign a resident compliance officer to the Commonwealth to monitor its compliance with such conditions.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Payne, Lewis F., Jr. [D-VA-5] · D–VA

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

12 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Aug 10, 1993
See H.R.2264.
May 18, 1993
Executive Comment Received from ITC.
Apr 5, 1993
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
Mar 3, 1993
Executive Comment Requested from Treasury, Commerce, Labor, ITC, USTR.
Feb 25, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Feb 18, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Feb 18, 1993
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H692-693)
Feb 18, 1993
Introduced in House
Feb 18, 1993
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Feb 18, 1993 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 2264 · Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.997 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.997, 103rd Congress: To amend General Note 3(a)(iv) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to deny special tariff treatment to goods of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands unless certain conditions are met, to require the Secretary of Labor to assign a full-time resident compliance officer to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/997

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-02-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr997/BILLS-103hr997ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:24Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.997 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.997 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.997, 103rd Congress: To amend General Note 3(a)(iv) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to deny special tariff treatment to goods of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands unless certain conditions are met, to require the Secretary of Labor to assign a full-time resident compliance officer to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/997

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-02-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr997/BILLS-103hr997ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:24Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.997 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.997 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.997, 103rd Congress: To amend General Note 3(a)(iv) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to deny special tariff treatment to goods of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands unless certain conditions are met, to require the Secretary of Labor to assign a full-time resident compliance officer to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/997

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-02-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr997/BILLS-103hr997ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:24Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.997 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.997 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.997, 103rd Congress: To amend General Note 3(a)(iv) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to deny special tariff treatment to goods of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands unless certain conditions are met, to require the Secretary of Labor to assign a full-time resident compliance officer to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/997

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-02-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr997/BILLS-103hr997ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:23:24Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.997 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.