[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 14 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HOLLINGS:
  S. 287. A bill to require congressional approval before any trade 
agreements entered into under the auspices of the World Trade 
Organization; to the Committee on Finance.


              the approval of trade agreements act of 1997

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to restore the 
constitutional balance to our trade policy and preserve the Congress' 
constitutional obligation to regulate foreign commerce. The bill I 
introduce requires that before a trade agreement negotiated under the 
auspices of the World Trade Organization is accorded the force of law, 
it must be ratified by the Congress. It is a simple bill, but I believe 
it protects a fundamental principle of our democracy, the separation of 
powers.
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