[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PROFESSIONAL SERVICE TRADE CORPS ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 4, 1997

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, one key reform essential to assure strong 
economic growth in our U.S. marketplace as well as to reduce the 
chronic U.S. trade deficit, is to upgrade the skill level of our U.S. 
trade negotiators. America must move our products into foreign markets, 
and assure that our trade negotiators are trustworthy.
  The bill, the Professional Trade Service Corps, would achieve these 
goals by creating an accomplished professional body of American trade 
negotiators. Just like diplomats in our Foreign Service, our trade 
representatives are America's conveyors of our Nation's economic and 
political interests.
  Specifically, the act authorizes the creation of the Professional 
Trade Service Corps to fill key trade positions in the six Federal 
agencies with major trade-related functions or offices. It will insure 
better coordination and continuity of service among the Office of the 
United States Trade Representative, the State Department, the Commerce 
Department, the Agriculture Department, the Labor Department, and the 
Treasury Department in their trade-related functions.
  We would not allow graduates of West Point to lead foreign armies 
against our country. We should not allow trade negotiators trained at 
taxpayer expense to leave Government service and represent foreign 
interests against the best interests of our Government. We must treat 
this situation as seriously as any international proceeding.
  There is a revolving door at the highest levels of government service 
that foreign interests use to manipulate our trade policies and destroy 
U.S. industries and jobs. This bill will go a long way to establishing 
standards to remedy this egregious problem.
  The Professional Trade Service Corps Act will create a cadre of 
career trade professionals similar to the Foreign Service, identify key 
trade-related positions, and staff these positions with broadly trained 
experts in this highly specialized area. Just as importantly, it 
establishes a career path for continued government service and 
advancement, encourages continuity of staffing with the carrot of 
incentives, and the stick of postemployment restrictions.
  This corps of trade professionals will be constituted of applicants 
chosen through a rigorous selection process. They will be carefully 
trained to establish a high level of excellence in these key trade 
positions.
  To meet these objectives, this act establishes a Trade Service Corps 
Institute to provide specialized training which will include: the 
history of U.S. trade negotiations; trade negotiating strategies; the 
economics and politics of trade; the cultural and business practices of 
countries with which the United States has significant trade relations; 
foreign language instruction; and instruction in the operations within 
and the interrelationships among the various trade-related agencies.
  This act will require the Professional Trade Service Corps members to 
remain in government service for a period of time at least three times 
the length of their training, and subject them, as well as the 
legislative branch, to postemployment restrictions in their 
representation of foreign interests in trade-related matters.
  It is time to stop the revolving door which threatens our trade 
interests and jobs. This bill is an important step in that direction. 
The Professional Trade Service Corps Act presents a comprehensive 
strategy for improving the quality and integrity of our trade 
negotiators. We must protect our economic and trade interests; to do 
otherwise is to compromise our national security.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of all of my distinguished colleagues 
and ask that they join me in cosponsoring the Professional Trade 
Services Corps Act of 1997.

                          ____________________