Economic Competitiveness, International Trade, and Technology Development Act of 1987

(Reported to Senate from the Committee on Governmental Affairs with amendment, S. Rept. 100-82)

Title I: Trade and Technology Policy - Subtitle A: Department of Industry and Technology - Part I: General Provisions - Economic Competitiveness, International Trade, and Technology Development Act of 1987 - Sets forth congressional findings with respect to U.S. international competitiveness.

Part II: Establishment and Organization - Establishes the Department of Industry and Technology (Department) as an executive department which shall be administered by a Secretary of Industry and Technology (Secretary). Provides for the appointment by the President of the Secretary and a Deputy Secretary of Industry and Technology. Sets forth the functions of the Secretary, including: (1) to seek and promote new opportunities for U.S. products in the world marketplace; (2) to assist U.S. businesses in developing export markets; and (3) to develop programs to promote U.S. international economic and technology policy.

Establishes within the Department the Office of Under Secretary for Industry. Provides that such office shall be administered by the Under Secretary of Industry and Technology for Industry. Declares that such office shall be composed of: (1) the Office of Economic Analysis; (2) the Office of Trade Development; (3) the United States and Foreign Commercial Service; (4) the Office of Economic Development; (5) the Bureau of the Census; (6) the Minority Business Development Agency; (7) the Office of Small Business Trade Remedy Assistance; (8) the Office of the Chief Economist; and (9) the Office of Strategic Resources. Provides for the establishment of such offices and the transfer to such offices of specified functions of the Department of Commerce and the United States International Trade Commission.

Establishes within the Department the Office of the Under Secretary for Technology. Provides that such office shall be administered by the Under Secretary of Industry and Technology for Technology. Declares that such office shall be composed of: (1) the Advanced Civilian Technology Agency; (2) the Office of Technology Information; (3) the Patent and Trademark Office; (4) the National Bureau of Standards; and (5) the Office of Communications and Information. Provides for the establishment of such offices and the transfer to such offices of specified functions of the Department of Commerce. Establishes within the Office of Technology Information the National Technical Information Service and the Office of International Technology Monitoring.

Establishes within the Department the United States Travel and Tourism Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Requires the appointment within the Department of two additional Assistant Secretaries of Industry and Technology, a General Counsel, and an Inspector General.

Part III: Advanced Civilian Technology Agency - Establishes within the Department the Advanced Civilian Technology Agency. Provides that such Agency shall be administered by an Administrator. Sets forth the functions of such Agency.

Establishes within such Agency the National Advanced Civilian Technology Advisory Board to provide advice on Agency activities and programs to the Secretary, the Under Secretary of Industry and Technology for Technology, and the Administrator.

Authorizes the Secretary, through the Administrator, to make grants and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with research and development organizations to support long-term projects for: (1) research and development of new or advanced technology for the private sector of the U.S. economy; and (2) research concerning the commercial adaptation of such technology. Sets forth requirements with respect to such grants and contracts. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991.

Part IV: Transfers to the Department - Transfer functions of the Department of Commerce and of the Trade Remedy Assistance Office of the International Trade Commission to the Secretary.

Part V: Administrative Provisions - Sets forth administrative provisions dealing with: (1) Department of Industry and Technology personnel; (2) the power of the Secretary to delegate functions; (3) the succession of officers within the Department; (4) the authority of the Secretary to reorganize the Department; (5) the authority of the Secretary to issue rules and regulations; (6) the establishment of a working capital fund for the Department; and (7) other administrative matters. Requires the Secretary to submit a report to the President for transmission to the Congress.

Sets forth conforming amendments.

Subtitle B: Trade Functions - Part I: General Provisions - Establishes as an independent agency the United States Trade Administration (Administration) which shall be headed by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Provides for the appointment of four Deputy USTRs. Establishes within the Administration the Office of Trade Enforcement Programs. Provides that such Office shall be headed by the Director of Trade Enforcement Programs. Provides for the appointment of a General Counsel and a Chief Textile Negotiator for the Administration.

Establishes within the Executive Office of the President the Office of Trade Policy Coordination. Provides that such office shall be headed by the USTR. Sets forth the functions of the Administration. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the USTR shall: (1) be the senior representative on any body that the President may establish for providing the President advice on international trade; and (2) be included as a participant in all international economic summits.

Transfers the Office of the USTR, including all functions performed by the USTR, to the USTR appointed under the Administration. Transfers all functions of the Secretary of Commerce relating to trade to the USTR.

Part II: Administrative Provisions - Sets forth provisions dealing with: (1) personnel issues; (2) the power of the USTR to delegate functions; (3) succession of officers within the Administration; (4) the authority of the USTR to reorganize the Administration; (5) the authority of the USTR to issue rules and regulations; (6) the establishment of a working capital fund for the Administration; and (7) other administrative matters. Requires the USTR to submit a report to the President for transmission to the Congress.

Subtitle C: Economic Policy Council - Directs the President to establish the Economic Policy Council (Council) within the Executive Office of the President. Declares that the Council shall advise the President on national and international economic policies.

Subtitle D: Transitional, Savings, and Conforming Provisions - Sets forth transitional, savings, and conforming provisions relating to changes made by this Act.

Terminates the Department of Commerce and the Office of the USTR in the Executive Office of the President.

Authorizes appropriations.

Title II: Interagency Committees and Commissions - Subtitle A: Council on Economic Competitiveness - Part I: Establishment of Council - Establishes as an independent agency the Council on Economic Competitiveness. Sets forth the duties of the Council, including to: (1) collect and provide information concerning U.S. economic competitiveness; (2) serve as a clearinghouse that identifies and monitors Federal, State, and local programs devised to increase U.S. competitiveness; and (3) report annually to the President and the Congress on the ability of the United States to be internationally competitive.

Provides that the principal administrative officer of the Council shall be an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by such Council.

Sets forth the powers of the Council. Requires the Council, at the request of the President or the leaders of the House or Senate, to consult with the President on issues related to U.S. economic competitiveness. Authorizes the Council to convene industry sector competitiveness subcouncils which shall encourage U.S. industries to become competitive.

Requires the Council to monitor the effect of international trade and foreign activities in science and technology on U.S. industries. Requires the Council to transmit a report to the Congress and to the President containing Council recommendations for changes in Federal policy necessary to implement competitiveness policies. Requires the Council to transmit annually to the President and to the Congress a report setting forth the goals to achieve a more competitive U.S. economy.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988.

Part II: Budget Impact on Competition - Requires the President to include in the annual Federal budget submitted to the Congress for FY 1989 through 1992 an analysis by the Office of Management and Budget of the budget's impact on the economic competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. balance of payments, including projections, based upon the best information available at the time, for Government borrowing, domestic savings, private domestic investment, the merchandise trade and current accounts, and foreign indebtedness.

Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require that a similar analysis, prepared after consultation with the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, be included in the report of the Committee on the Budget of each House of Congress which accompanies each concurrent resolution on the budget for FY 1989 through 1992.

Subtitle B: National Trade Data Bank - Establishes the National Trade Data Committee. Sets forth the functions of the Committee, including to: (1) formulate and implement an economic and trade information policy to assure the timely collection of data on trends in international economics and trade; (2) direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a National Trade Data Bank to provide the private sector and Government officials with economic and trade data for policymaking and export promotion; (3) formulate policies to encourage international organizations and foreign countries to adopt systems to report foreign trade statistics; and (4) present recommendations to the Congress concerning changes needed to improve the accuracy of U.S. trade information.

Requires the Secretary of Commerce, after receiving instructions from the Committee, to establish and manage the Data Bank.

Subtitle C: Financial Acquisitions Review - Financial Acquisitions Review Act of 1987 - Sets forth congressional findings with respect to U.S. financial institutions conducting business in foreign countries.

Establishes the Interagency Financial Acquisitions Review Board (Board) as an independent agency. Requires the Board to review any proposed foreign acquisition of a U.S. business that provides financial services. Sets forth the powers of the Board. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle D: Commission on United States Trade in the 1990's - Establishes the Commission on United States Trade in the 1990's. Requires the Commission to study and make recommendations concerning U.S. international trade and export practices. Terminates the Commission on January 1, 1989. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 and 1989.

Subtitle E: Studies - Requires the Secretary of Commerce to conduct annually a study to: (1) identify U.S. barriers to U.S. exports; (2) estimate the increased value of U.S. export that would result from the elimination of such barriers; and (3) examine national security concerns with respect to such barriers. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to submit an annual report to the Congress on such study.

Requires the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study to determine the labor and physical resource needs of: (1) the U.S. economy; (2) critical technologies; and (3) emerging technologies.

Requires the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study to determine the relationship between the manufacturing base and other commercial activity, especially in the area of services of high technology.

Requires the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to conduct an annual study to determine the impact on the domestic and foreign competitiveness of U.S. firms caused by the financial and regulatory systems (including antitrust laws) of those foreign countries which engage in practices that constitute barriers to trade or distortions of trade.

Subtitle F: Interagency Coordinating Committee on Federal Participation in Sematech - Interagency Coordinating Committee on Federal Participation in Sematech Act of 1987 - Establishes the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Federal Participation in Sematech and an Advisory Council on Federal Participation in Sematech. Defines "Sematech" as a consortium of United States semiconductor manufacturers, materials manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, academic institutions, and Federal agencies, established for the purpose of: (1) conducting research concerning advanced semiconductor manufacturing techniques; and (2) developing techniques to adapt manufacturing expertise to a variety of semiconductor products.

Requires the Committee, within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress its recommendations about whether the Federal Government should participate in Sematech. Specifies the contents of a favorable report. Outlines the duties of the Committee should a majority vote to support Federal participation. Requires the provision of grants and other financial assistance to Sematech in such an event, but limits the Federal share of costs to 50 percent. Makes the Committee a liaison between Federal agencies and private participants in Sematech. Directs the Committee to require Sematech to submit annual reports and provide for biennial audits.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1992.

Subtitle G: State Job Bank Systems; Pension Study - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act to require the Secretary of Labor to make funds available through the United States Employment Service for the development of State job bank systems. Authorizes appropriations

Requires the Secretary of Labor to commence a study of the feasibility of providing portability for pensions and health benefits for dislocated workers. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle H: Committee on Symmetrical Access to Technological Research - Establishes the Committee on Symmetrical Access to Technological Research. Sets forth the functions of the Committee, including to: (1) study the general concept of symmetrical access, which is the availability of equally valued technological knowledge and research across countries; (2) construct a description of the degree of symmetrical access between the United States and its major trading partners; and (3) recommend negotiating goals for the U.S. Trade Representative to follow in negotiations with foreign countries which are designed to increase symmetrical access between the United States and such countries.