According to The Congressional Record, on February 9, 2009, the Senate is expected to continue its consideration of H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Economic Stimulus Bill) and vote on a motion to invoke cloture (i.e., end debate) on a Collins/Nelson substitute amendment. If cloture is invoked, the Senate is expected to vote on the substitute amendment on February 10, 2009. If the amendment is agreed to, the Senate is then expected to proceed to a vote on the passage of H.R. 1, as amended by the Senate. (Congressional Records, dated 02/06/09 and 02/07/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090206) and http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090207)

Mattel imposed “mid-single digit” price increases for its products as it sought to offset declining revenue, company officials told analysts in a conference call Monday. While company officials didn’t disclose the exact amount of the increase, it was higher than those of three years ago, but below those of 2008, when Mattel was saddled with rising materials costs. Mattel also lost some revenue in the recent bankruptcies of KB Toys and Woolworth’s in the U.K., but it wasn’t a “sizeable” amount, Chief Financial Officer Kevin Farr said. Mattel incurred about $52 million in incremental legal costs in fiscal 2008, about $37 million of which was tied to its battle with MGA Entertainment. A jury found last July that MGA’s Bratz doll had been conceived by a designer when he was employed by Mattel. A federal judge in January ruled that MGA could continue selling the dolls through Dec. 31 before turning the franchise over to Mattel. A previous court ruling would have forced MGA to relinquish control this month, MGA has said. Mattel has requested that Bratz revenue be put in the hands of a court-appointed body that would collect it as MGA pursues an appeal. “There has been no indication of a genuine interest in settling,” Mattel CEO Robert Eckert said. Mattel also paid $12 million as part of a settlement reached with attorneys general in 38 states, resolving a 16-month investigation into a 2007 voluntary recall of its toys for excessive lead paint. Mattel’s Q4 net income narrowed to $176.4 million from $328.5 million as revenue dropped to $1.94 billion from $2.18 billion. Gross profit slipped to 46 percent from 48 percent. In a restructuring, Mattel is cutting 1,000 jobs and dropping capital spending from the $199 million spent last year adding “low level” automation to some plants in Asia and revamping its design studio in El Segundo, Calif., Farr said. Sales of Mattel Boys and Girls brands dropped in Q4 to $1.11 billion from $1.35 billion a year earlier, while those from Fisher- Price slipped to $754.2 million from $840.3 million, the company said. In Mattel’s entertainment business, which includes Radica CE-related toys, Q4 gross sales fell 17 percent, the company said.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has refiled for Federal Register publication its notice that announces a revision to its enforcement phase-in plan for the Lacey Act Amendment declaration requirement for imported plants and plant products, etc. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/23/09 news, 09012305, for BP summary of pulled notice.) (Draft FR notice available at http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-02232_PI.pdf)

In his written answers to questions posed by the Senate Finance Committee as part of the confirmation process, Treasury Secretary Geithner addressed numerous issues, including China currency manipulation. According to Treasury Secretary Geithner, President Obama believes that China is manipulating its currency and has pledged to use aggressively all the diplomatic avenues open to him to seek change in China's currency practices. (Written answers, dated 01/21/09, available at http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/012209%20TFG%20Questions.pdf.)

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a news release announcing the conclusion of the Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review for Taiwan. The USTR recognized Taiwan's progress on protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights by removing Taiwan from the Special 301 Watch List. (USTR news release, dated 01/16/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2009/January/asset_upload_file824_15293.pdf)

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration, has issued a final rule, effective March 16, 2009, amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations to prescribe enhanced safety measures for rail transportation of poison inhalation hazard (PIH) materials, including interim design standards for railroad tank cars. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/08/09 news, 09010825, for BP summary of the Transportation Security Administration's recent extension of certain rail security requirements.) (FR Pub 01/13/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E8-31056.pdf)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a notice of its final recommended best importer practices to enhance the safety of imported motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. The recommended practices seek to reduce the likelihood of importing products that contain defects related to motor vehicle safety or do not comply with applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS).

The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted a July 2008 edition of its report entitled "Don't Let this Happen to You: Actual Investigations of Export Control and Antiboycott Violations." (Posting available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/complianceandenforcement/dontletthishappentoyou-2008.pdf)

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice announcing that it has formally requested that the parties to Agreement No. 201199 (the Port Fee Services Agreement) provide additional information. This action prevents the agreement from becoming effective as originally scheduled. Interested parties have 15 days after publication of the notice to file further comments on the agreement. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/19/08 news, 08121910, for BP summary of FMC's reqeust for additional information on Agreement No. 201199.) (Notice, FR Pub 12/24/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-30633.pdf.)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is joining Target in announcing a new notification system for communicating product recalls in Target stores nationwide. Target's safety and recall notification program involves posting signs throughout its stores that direct guests to gift registry kiosks near the Guest Service desk to learn about recalled products. Through the kiosk system, guests in Target stores will have easy access to notices of new or past recalls for all product categories and can print copies of safety and recall notices to take with them. (CPSC press release, dated 12/18/08, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09070.html)