Commonly known as the ‘customs’ bill, this measure would strengthen enforcement of trade restrictions and facilitate trade through a variety of related measures. It also included an AIPAC-backed provision designed to strengthen the U.S.-Israel economic relationship and discourage boycott, divestment, and sanctions of Israel, and boycotts of the Israeli settlements in particular.
Due to procedural rules, the Senate amended the full text of an earlier version of the customs bill, S. 1269 of 5/11/15, creating this version as a substitute on 5/14 and replacing an unrelated measure. After passage in the Senate, the House amended the bill again, modifying the anti-BDS language, inter alia, and passing it on 6/12/15. The House’s new anti-BDS language was mostly identical to that in the U.S.-Israel Trade and Commercial Enhancement Act (H.R. 825 of 2/10/15). After the Senate and House passed separate versions in the first half of 2015, House leadership agreed to a reconciliation conference on 12/1/15. The conferees then agreed to use the anti-BDS language from H.R. 825, with a few minor changes, and passed the bill on 12/11/15.
7 cosponsors (7R)
See also: S. 1269 of 5/11/15, H.R. 1314 of 3/4/15, and H.R. 1907 of 4/21/15.
Last major action: 12/11/15 House agreed to conference report by yea/nay vote, 256–158 (6/12/15 House agreed to Senate amendments, 240–190; 5/14/15 passed in Senate by yea/nay vote, 78–20; 2/12/15 original text passed in House, 279–137).