[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12609]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 24, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Treasury Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the U.S.
Customs Service
AGENCY: Departmental Offices, Treasury.
ACTION: Renewal of Treasury Advisory Committee on commercial operations
of the U.S. Customs Service and solicitation of committee members.
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SUMMARY: It is in the public interest to renew the Advisory Committee
for another two-year term. This notice also establishes criteria and
procedures for the selection of members.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dennis M. O'Connell, Director, Office of Tariff and Trade Affairs,
Office of the Assistant Secretary (Enforcement), (202) 622-0220.
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. I
(1962), and section 9503(c) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1987 (Pub. L. 100-203), the Assistant Secretary (Enforcement) announces
the renewal of the following advisory committee:
Title: The Treasury Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of
the U.S. Customs Service.
Purpose: The purpose of the Committee is to present advice and
recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury regarding commercial
operations of the U.S. Customs Service and to submit a report to
Congress containing a summary of its operations and its views and
recommendations.
Statement of Public Interest: It is in the public interest to
continue the existence of the Committee upon expiration, under the
provisions of the Advisory Committee Act, of its current two-year term.
The Committee provides a critical forum for distinguished
representatives of diverse industry sectors to present their views on
major issues involving commercial operations of the Customs Service.
These views are offered directly to senior Treasury and Customs
officials on a regular basis in a candid atmosphere. There exists no
other single body that serves a comparable function.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (Pub. L. 100-203),
Congress repealed the statutory mandate for a Customs User Fee Advisory
Committee and directed the Secretary of the Treasury to create a new
Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of the U.S. Customs
Service. The original Committee consisted of 20 members drawn broadly
from industry sectors affected by Customs commercial operations. The
Committee's charter was filed on October 17, 1988 and expired two years
later. A new charter was filed on October 17, 1990, renewing the
Committee for an additional two-year term. A third charter was filed on
October 15, 1992, renewing the Committee for another two-year term, and
the Committee has met quarterly thereafter. The current term of the
Committee will end with the expiration of the current chapter on
October 15, 1994. The Treasury Department plans to file a new charter
by that date renewing the Committee for a fourth two-year term.
Objectives, Scope and Description of the Committee
The Committee's objectives are to advise the Secretary of the
Treasury on issues relating to the commercial operations of the Customs
Service. It is expected that, during its third two-year term, the
Committee will consider such issues as implementation of the Customs
Modernization Act, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the
recent GATT agreement; user fees; administration of staff and resources
for commercial operations; commercial and trade enforcement; impact of
Customs commercial operations on ports and carriers; automated systems;
Customs reorganization; and the President's ``reinvention of
government'' initiative.
The Committee will be chaired by the Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury for Enforcement. The Committee will function for a two-year
period before renewal or abolishment and will meet approximately eight
times (quarterly) during the period. An additional special meeting of
the full Committee or a subcommittee thereof may be convened if
necessary. The meetings will generally be held in the Treasury
Department, Washington, DC. However, typically one meeting per year,
but generally not more than two, may be held outside of Washington at a
Customs port. In recent years, meetings have been held in New York, San
Diego, Miami, Buffalo, El Paso, and Chicago.
The members shall be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury from
representatives of the trade or transportation community serviced by
Customs, the general public, or others who are directly affected by
Customs commercial operations. In addition, members shall represent
major regions of the country, and not more than ten members may be
affiliated with the same political party. No person who is required to
register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act as an agent or
representative of a foreign principal may serve on an advisory
committee. Members shall not be paid compensation nor shall they be
considered Federal Government employees for any purpose. No per diem,
transportation, or other expenses are reimbursed for the cost of
attending Committee meetings at any location.
Members who are serving on the Committee during its expiring two-
year term are eligible to reapply for membership. A new application
letter and updated resume are required. It is expected that
approximately half of the current membership of the Committee will be
replaced with new appointees.
Membership on the Committee is personal to the appointee. Under the
Committee By-laws, a member may not send an alternate to represent him
at a Committee meeting. However, since Committee meetings are open to
the public, another person from a member's organization may attend and
observe the proceedings in a nonparticipating capacity. Regular
attendance is essential; a member who is absent for two consecutive
meetings or two meetings in a calender year shall lose his seat on the
Committee.
Application for Advisory Committee Appointment
Any interested person wishing to serve on the Treasury Advisory
Committee on Commercial Operations of the U.S. Customs Service must
provide the following:
--Statement of interest and reasons for application;
--Complete professional biography or resume;
--Political affiliation, in order to ensure balanced representation.
(Mandatory. If no party registration, indicate ``independent'' or
``unaffiliated'').
In addition, applicants must state in their applications that they
agree to submit to preappointment security and tax checks. There is no
prescribed format for the application. Applicants may send a cover
letter describing their interest and qualifications and enclosing a
resume.
The application period for interested candidates will extend to
July 15, 1994. Applications should be submitted in sufficient time to
be received by the closing date to the Director, Office of Tariff and
Trade Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary (Enforcement)), Room
4004, Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20220.
Dated: May 18, 1994.
John P. Simpson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Regulatory, Tariff and Trade Enforcement).
[FR Doc. 94-12609 Filed 5-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-M
