The U.S. House of Representative has voted to pass the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010, better known as the miscellaneous tariff bill, or MTB (H.R. 4380). The legislation passed 378 – 43, with surprisingly bipartisan support from 249 Democrats and 129 Republicans. The U.S. Senate must now take up its version of the MTB and pass it for the tariff suspensions passed today to be enacted.

The MTB contained several outdoor products, including extensions of several duty suspensions on waterproof breathable footwear, ski and snowboard equipment and footwear and bicycle parts and accessories.

“OIA and our member companies are extremely pleased by today’s vote in the House,” said

“The MTB has several provisions extending duty suspensions on footwear and other outdoor products that over the last three years have saved outdoor companies more than $21 million,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of Outdoor Industry Association, upon announcement of the passage. “In addition, the duty suspensions have actually increased exports of U.S made components for these outdoor products.”

Because many of the bills included in the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act are extensions of previously enacted, but since expired tariff suspensions, the House passed MTB has a provision making it retroactive to January 1, 2010.