[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I will not make a unanimous-consent request, 
but I will just say, again, a word about the WTO modification, the 
World Trade Organization.
  As I indicated earlier this morning, it seems to me it is not a 
partisan measure. It just gives Congress some input, some authority and 
some responsibility. We know the American people are concerned about 
job loss, about exporting jobs and about all these international 
faceless, nameless bureaucrats who make decisions that might impact on 
their job. So it occurred to me the Congress should have some say, and 
we should be able to initiate withdrawal from the World Trade 
Organization.
  I think if we go back and look at the past, we will find that most 
Presidents are reluctant to do that, regardless of party. So this would 
give Congress, Democrats and Republicans--probably working together--a 
right to initiate withdrawal from the World Trade Organization. To me, 
those who voted against NAFTA or GATT--this pertains only to GATT, the 
World Trade Organization--but this would be sending a very strong 
signal.
  It would also, I think, be helpful; it might send a strong enough 
signal that some of our unfair competitors in foreign countries 
understand that we are serious about this. We are concerned about 
American jobs, whether they be in Georgia or Kansas, wherever, and that 
we in Congress are accountable. We are on the ballot every 6 years or 
every 2 years.
  So I hope sometime before--let us just pick a number, say 2 o'clock--
we can clear this and pass it. If not, I will leave it up to my friend 
from Georgia to take care of it after I am gone.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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