S.1976 / 104th Congress

A bill to authorize the President to enter into a trade agreement concerning Northern Ireland and certain Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.1976 through Congress

S.1976 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

SenateJul 19, 1996IntroducedOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

No House action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related House measures (1)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the House stage of S.1976.

Related House bill: H.R.3599 To authorize the President to enter into a trade agreement concerning Northern Ireland and certain Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland, and for other purposes.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 19, 1996

Authorizes the President to enter into a free trade agreement with qualified areas of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland that provides for the: (1) reduction and elimination of trade barriers; (2) prohibition or limitations on the imposition of such barriers; and (3) elimination or reduction of duties imposed by the United States. Sets forth criteria for the duty-free treatment of qualified area products. Limits such qualified areas of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to those suffering from the severest form of economic deprivation, with a higher than average unemployment. Requires employers to comply with the MacBride Principles of economic justice. Requires the International Trade Commission to advise the President, before any reduction or elimination of duty is proclaimed with respect to an article, of any economic effect on U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive articles, and on consumers, in providing duty-free treatment for such articles. Requires the President to consult with the Congress before entering into, or implementing, any free trade agreement under this Act.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. D'Amato, Alfonse [R-NY] · R–NY

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.

Jul 19, 1996
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Jul 19, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8374)
Jul 19, 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 · Jul 19, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 3599 · To authorize the President to enter into a trade agreement concerning Northern Ireland and certain Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland, and for other purposes.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 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.1976 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.1976, 104th Congress: A bill to authorize the President to enter into a trade agreement concerning Northern Ireland and certain Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1976

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-07-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1976/BILLS-104s1976is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:30:17Z. 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.1976 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.1976 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.1976, 104th Congress: A bill to authorize the President to enter into a trade agreement concerning Northern Ireland and certain Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1976

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-07-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1976/BILLS-104s1976is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:30:17Z. 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.1976 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.1976 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.1976, 104th Congress: A bill to authorize the President to enter into a trade agreement concerning Northern Ireland and certain Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1976

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-07-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1976/BILLS-104s1976is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:30:17Z. 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.1976 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.1976 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.1976, 104th Congress: A bill to authorize the President to enter into a trade agreement concerning Northern Ireland and certain Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1976

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-07-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1976/BILLS-104s1976is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:30:17Z. 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.1976 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.