[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL AND LABOR SIDE AGREEMENTS

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                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 1996

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I introduce this bill today 
to help enforce the environmental and labor side agreements sold to the 
Congress by President Bill Clinton to obtain ratification of the North 
American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA].
  NAFTA's detrimental effect upon both the environment and the American 
worker are being further realized the longer we allow current practice 
to continue. Today, I propose a mechanism that requires the President 
to verify the enforcement of the side agreements that were used to gain 
Congressional approval of NAFTA. Unfortunately, these well-intentioned, 
feel good side agreements have no teeth, and thus, provide none of the 
environmental or labor protections promised during the passage of 
NAFTA.
  My bill requires the President to certify to Congress, on an annual 
basis, the compliance of NAFTA parties--Mexico, Canada, and the United 
States--with the side agreements. Should a party fail to meet 
certification, the United States will deny financial assistance--
including loans or extension of credit by international financial 
institutions--to that country. As a last resort, targeted tariffs 
against products most benefitting from side-agreement noncompliance may 
be pursued.
  In short, my bill merely requires the President to verify side-
agreement compliance and creates a mechanism to help ensure Mexico 
enforces its own laws. It is my hope that such enforcement will protect 
the environment and economy of the United States, two things that are 
endangered under current practice.

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