§3807 Congressional Oversight Group

Summary

The chairmen of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee must meet within 60 days after August 6, 2002, and within 30 days after each new Congress starts, to form a Congressional Oversight Group for trade talks. The Group includes, from the House: the Ways and Means chair and ranking member, plus three more Ways and Means members (no more than two from the same party), and the chairs and ranking members (or their designees) of any House committees that oversee laws affected by the trade talks. From the Senate it includes the Finance chair and ranking member, plus three more Finance members (no more than two from the same party), and the chairs and ranking members (or designees) of any Senate committees with relevant jurisdiction. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) must formally name members from the listed Finance/Ways and Means spots and the other listed members as official advisers to U.S. negotiators. The Group gives advice to the USTR on goals, strategy, positions, treaty text, and how to enforce the agreement once it is made. The two committee chairmen co-chair the Group. The USTR, working with the chairmen and ranking members of Ways and Means and Finance, must write guidelines within 120 days after August 6, 2002, and update them as needed. The rules must require regular, detailed briefings on objectives, positions, and negotiation status (with more briefings near the end), give Group members and properly cleared staff access to relevant papers including classified material, ensure close coordination at key times including at negotiation sites, provide for post-agreement enforcement consultation, and set the deadline for a required report. If a majority of the Group asks, the President must meet with the Group before talks start or at any other time about the negotiations.