The Food and Drug Administration has posted its Enforcement Report for the week of March 18, 2009. The report contains information on actions taken in connection with agency Regulatory activities. (Enforcement report, dated 03/18/09, available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2009/ENF01099.html)

The State Department has posted remarks made by Mexico's Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State Clinton during Clinton's recent visit to Mexico. Mexico's Foreign Minister noted that the U.S. and Mexico are working together to accomplish conditions that allow for full compliance with NAFTA, including the topic of motor transportation. During the press conference, Secretary Clinton noted that the Administration has set aside $720 million for modernizing border crossings. (Transcript, dated 03/25/09, available at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/03/120905.htm.)

The Port of Los Angeles is launching an Intermodal Container Incentive Program that will pay shipping companies $20 per TEU for each additional container they bring into the Port by rail that exceeds their 2008 level. The new incremental incentive program, which begins on May 1, 2009, is expected to cost $900,000. (Port of Los Angeles news release, dated 03/20/09, available at http://www.portoflosangeles.org/newsroom/2009_releases/news_032009_rail_incentive.asp)

The Long Beach Harbor Commissioners are meeting on March 23, 2009 to consider revisions to the Clean Trucks Program. Changes proposed would expand exemptions to the Clean Truck Fee, recognizing the goods movement industry's demand for private financing of new clean trucks and encouraging use of liquefied natural gas-fueled (LNG) vehicles. (News release available at http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=532&TargetID=24)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would establish guidelines and requirements for mandatory recall notices ordered by (i) the CPSC or (ii) by a U.S. District Court under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).

On March 18, 2009, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1512, which it states would amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, as well as amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program. The bill was subsequently forwarded to the Senate. (Congressional Record, dated 03/18/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090318))

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted a proposed rule to its Web site that would establish guidelines and requirements for mandatory recall notices ordered by the CPSC or by a U.S. District Court under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).

In his weekly address, President Barack Obama announced the appointment of Dr. Margaret Hamburg as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the creation of a new Food Safety Working Group to coordinate with agencies and senior officials to advise the President on improving coordination throughout the government, examining and upgrading food safety laws, and enforcing laws that will keep the American people safe. In addition, the President also announced that the Department of Agriculture will close a loophole to prevent diseased cows from entering the food supply and the government will invest in the FDA to substantially increase the number of food inspectors and modernize food safety labs. (White House statement, dated 03/14/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Weekly-Address-President-Barack-Obama-Announces-Key-FDA-Appointments-and-Tougher-Food-Safety-Measures/.)

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Oberstar issued a press release lauding the termination of the U.S.-Mexico cross border trucking pilot contained in the FY 2009 omnibus appropriations bill enacted by President Obama on March 11, 2009. (Press release, dated 03/11/09, available at http://transportation.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=855.)

On March 10, 2009, the Senate passed H.R. 1105, the fiscal year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. (Note that the House passed H.R. 1105 on February 25, 2009.) A statement from Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Inouye is alsoavailable. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/03/09 news, 09030315, for BP summary on the trade-related highlights of H.R. 1105 and its explanatory statement.) (Congressional Record, dated 03/10/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090310); Senator Inouye's statement, dated 03/10/09, available at http://appropriations.senate.gov/News/2009_03_10_Chairman_Inouye_Statement_on_Senate_Passage_of_FY_2009_Omnibus_Legislation.pdf?CFID=1320119&CFTOKEN=91627017.)