[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 473 Introduced in House (IH)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 473
To assess the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on
domestic job loss and the environment, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 6, 2001
Ms. Rivers introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To assess the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on
domestic job loss and the environment, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REPORTS ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF NAFTA ON JOBS AND THE
ENVIRONMENT.
(a) Report on Domestic Manufacturing and Jobs.--The Secretary of
Commerce, after consultation with the appropriate government agencies,
shall determine the levels of exports of United States manufactured
goods to NAFTA parties and imports into the United States of
manufactured goods from NAFTA parties, and the number of jobs that have
resulted from increased exports of manufactured goods to NAFTA parties
and the loss of jobs that has resulted from increased imports into the
United States of manufactured goods from NAFTA parties since January 1,
1994. The Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Congress a report
on the determinations made under this subsection not later than 6
months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Report Relating to Health and Environmental Impacts of NAFTA.--
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in
consultation with the Secretariat for the NAFTA Commission on
Environmental Cooperation, shall conduct investigations of whether
pollution and health hazards in the United States have worsened since
January 1, 1994, to the extent they may be attributable to the
implementation of NAFTA, and specifically in and around the United
States-Mexico border and the United States-Canada border, and shall
report to the Congress on the results of those investigations not later
than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 2. PRESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATIONS.
(a) Certifications Regarding Environmental Agreement.--
(1) Annual certifications.--The President shall, on the
basis of the reports prepared under paragraph (2), submit to
the Congress, not later than May 31 of each year, a report that
certifies whether or not each NAFTA country is meeting
commitments made in the North American Agreement on
Environmental Cooperation--
(A) to ensure that the regulations of that country
establish and enforce levels of environmental
protection that meet the requirements of its
constitution and other laws setting forth the country's
policy on environmental protection; and
(B) to effectively enforce the laws referred to in
paragraph (1).
(2) Basis of certification.--The Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency shall prepare for the President
an annual report on the enforcement by each NAFTA country of
its laws governing environmental protection, and its progress
in protecting the environment in accordance with its
development. In doing so, the Administrator shall consider the
country's--
(A) air quality standards;
(B) water effluent standards; and
(C) hazardous waste disposal standards.
Each report under this paragraph shall be transmitted to the
President not later than 30 days before the date on which the
President is required to submit his report under paragraph (1).
(b) Certifications Regarding Labor Agreement.--
(1) Annual certifications.--The President shall, on the
basis of the reports prepared under paragraph (2), submit to
the Congress, not later than May 31 of each year, a report that
certifies whether or not each NAFTA country is meeting
commitments made in the North American Agreement on Labor
Cooperation to comply with the objectives of that Agreement to
promote and improve laws protecting worker rights and to
promote compliance with these laws by using appropriate methods
such as--
(A) monitoring and on-site inspection by persons
trained to do so;
(B) encouragement of voluntary compliance by
employers;
(C) mandatory reporting by employers to appropriate
governmental authorities; and
(D) enforcement actions.
(2) Basis of certification.--The Secretary of Labor shall
prepare for the President an annual report on the enforcement
by each NAFTA country of its laws protecting worker rights. In
doing so, the Secretary shall consider the country's
enforcement of such laws in accordance with the following labor
principles (as stated in the Preamble of the North American
Agreement on Labor Cooperation):
(A) Freedom of association.
(B) The right to bargain collectively.
(C) The right to strike.
(D) Prohibition on forced labor.
(E) Restrictions on labor by children and young
people.
(F) Minimum employment standards.
(G) Elimination of employment discrimination.
(H) Equal pay for men and women.
(I) Prevention of occupational accidents and
diseases.
(J) Compensation in cases of work accidents and
occupational diseases.
Each report under this paragraph shall be transmitted to the
President not later than 30 days before the date on which the
President is required to submit his report under paragraph (1).
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) NAFTA.--The term ``NAFTA'' means the North American
Free Trade Agreement entered into by the United States, Canada,
and Mexico on December 17, 1992.
(2) NAFTA country.--The term ``NAFTA country'' has the
meaning given that term in section 2(4) of the North American
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3301(4)).
(3) NAFTA party.--The term ``NAFTA party'' means the United
States, Canada, or Mexico.
(4) North american agreement on environmental
cooperation.--The term ``North American Agreement on
Environmental Cooperation'' has the meaning given that term in
section 532(b)(2) of the North American Free Trade Agreement
Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3472(b)(2)).
(5) North american agreement on labor cooperation.--The
term ``North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation'' has the
meaning given that term in section 531(b)(2) of the North
American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C.
3471(b)(2)).
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