[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTERNATIONAL DOLPHIN CONSERVATION PROGRAM ACT

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                               speech of

                          HON. CARDISS COLLINS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 31, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2823) to 
     amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to support the 
     International Dolphin Conservation Program in the eastern 
     tropical Pacific Ocean, and for other purposes:

  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 2823, the International 
Dolphin Act, lowers tough U.S. standards, governing the use of the 
``dolphin safe'' label on tuna sold in our country, to accommodate 
foreign fishermen and foreign governments.
  In its present form, this bill should be opposed. Not only will it 
lead to the killing of more dolphins, but it will also break a promise 
that the House of Representatives made to the American public 4 years 
ago concerning the North American Free Trade Agreement and other trade 
agreements with which we comply.
  At that time, I brought to the floor a resolution which promised the 
American public that the United States would not weaken any of its 
domestic environmental laws, laws protecting public health and safety, 
or consumer protection laws in order to meet our international trade 
obligations. That resolution passed the House unanimously.
  The bill we are considering breaks that promise we made to the 
American people. This legislation weakens standards that have been in 
effect for 6 years governing use of the ``dolphin safe'' label on tuna 
sold in the United States.
  Current U.S. standards prohibit the chasing, harassing, or injuring 
of dolphin, in order for tuna to be labeled ``dolphin safe.'' These 
prohibitions have been in the Marine Mammal Protection Act since 1972.
  However, H.R. 2823 says the ``dolphin safe'' label could be used as 
long as no dolphins are killed during the setting of a tuna net. As a 
result, this bill would let tuna be labeled as ``dolphin safe'', even 
though the fishermen who catch it may be in violation of the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act.
  Why are we making these changes in longstanding U.S. policy? It is 
simply because Mexico and other South American governments are pushing 
for it.
  Our first priority should be our promises to American consumers, not 
the concerns of foreign governments and foreign fishermen.
  Proponents of this legislation say we need to change our standards to 
bring the United States into compliance with our trade obligations. 
That simply is not true.
  This bill goes far beyond what is needed to comply with trade 
agreements to which we are a party. Mexico and other governments are 
simply using our trade agreements as an excuse to force other changes 
in U.S. law that are not justified and should not be made.
  Mr. Chairman, an amendment will be offered later by the gentleman 
from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds] which reiterates current U.S. policy on 
the use of the ``dolphin safe'' label. The amendment would not change, 
however, those provisions of the bill designed to bring the U.S. into 
compliance with trade agreements.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote for the amendment of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts. Unless the gentleman's amendment is 
adopted, the bill should be defeated.

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