A bill to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to permit merchandise purchased in a duty-free sales enterprise to be exempt from duty under certain circumstances.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 23, 1996

Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide for a personal allowance exemption from duties on merchandise purchased by U.S. residents in a duty-free sales enterprise upon their return to the customs territory of the United States, provided the person meets certain exemption eligibility requirements.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

Finance Committee

0 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.

May 23, 1996
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
May 23, 1996
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · May 23, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 14, 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 S.1796 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 S.1796, 104th Congress: A bill to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to permit merchandise purchased in a duty-free sales enterprise to be exempt from duty under certain circumstances.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1796

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1796/BILLS-104s1796is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:08:43Z. 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 S.1796 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 S.1796 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 S.1796, 104th Congress: A bill to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to permit merchandise purchased in a duty-free sales enterprise to be exempt from duty under certain circumstances.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1796

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1796/BILLS-104s1796is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:08:43Z. 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 S.1796 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 S.1796 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 S.1796, 104th Congress: A bill to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to permit merchandise purchased in a duty-free sales enterprise to be exempt from duty under certain circumstances.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1796

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1796/BILLS-104s1796is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:08:43Z. 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 S.1796 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 S.1796 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 S.1796, 104th Congress: A bill to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to permit merchandise purchased in a duty-free sales enterprise to be exempt from duty under certain circumstances.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1796

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-05-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1796/BILLS-104s1796is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:08:43Z. 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 S.1796 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.