House Ways and Means Committee Votes to Repeal the Byrd Amendment
Provided by Jeff Levin - Schmeltzer, Aptaker & Shepard - Harris Ellsworth & Levin International Trade Group
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Thursday, October 27, 2005
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By a vote of 22 to 17, the House Ways and Means Committee yesterday approved a budget reconciliation bill that includes a repeal of the so-called Byrd Amendment. The repeal was part of an overall budget reduction measure, which seeks to cut $8 billion in spending during fiscal year 2006. The budget package approved by the Committee now moves to a vote in the Budget Committee, and then the full House. It must then be brought to a conference committee for reconciliation with a similar bill now being debated by the Senate. The Ways and Means–approved budget package, including the Byrd Amendment repeal, is expected to pass the full House. However, the fight in the Senate – where 70 members are on record as opposing a repeal of the Byrd Amendment - is expected to be much tougher, despite support for repeal of the Byrd Amendment by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Chuck Grassley (R-IA). In any case, a very “inside” source tells Counsel that a repeal of the Byrd Amendment is now more likely than ever, and that repeal by the Senate is a very realistic possibility.
AFI has been actively engaged in the fight for repeal of the Byrd Amendment, and will heighten its efforts over the next few weeks. A draft “political action” letter will be sent to Members under separate cover in the next few days. ALL MEMBERS ARE URGED TO SEND THIS LETTER TO THEIR SENATORS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE ASSOCIAITION PUSH HARD AND NOW FOR REPEAL – THIS MAY BE OUR BEST CHANCE TO ELIMINATE THIS NOXIOUS PROVISION OF THE LAW.
We will keep Members closely advised.
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