The Senate voted on Thursday to approve a bipartisan bill that includes a provision authored by U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to prevent taxes on Internet access.
The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, H.R.644, outlines a variety of requirements regarding trade protection and general trade policy. It would also reauthorize the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The House previously passed the bill’s conference report in December.
Ayotte has been at the forefront of Senate efforts to permanently ban Internet access taxes, co-sponsoring the bipartisan Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act in 2015.
“I’m pleased that the Senate has finally approved a permanent ban on Internet access taxes,” Ayotte said. “Burdensome tax restrictions would impede our thriving e-commerce sector, and this provision will help ensure that the Internet remains a driving force for jobs and our economy.”
The White House Office of the Press Secretary applauded passage of the bipartisan Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act in the House and the Senate. President Obama intends to sign the bill into law, according to a statement from the Office of the Press Secretary.
“We are pleased the Senate passed the bipartisan Customs conference report because it will provide additional tools to help crack down on unfair competition by trading partners and foreign companies that put our workers and businesses at a disadvantage,” the Office of the Press Secretary said. “As with any bipartisan compromise legislation, there are provisions in this bill that we do not support, including a provision that contravenes longstanding U.S. policy towards Israel and the occupied territories, including with regard to Israeli settlement activity.”
The White House said the measure would strengthen trade enforcement at U.S. ports and borders and would improve efforts to stop evasion of trade laws.