[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Davis] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise at this moment to talk 
about something that is near and dear to the hearts of many Americans, 
and that is the North American Free Trade Agreement, otherwise known as 
NAFTA.
  When the United States enters into trade agreements, the objective 
should be to advance the standard of living for working families in our 
country and abroad.
  Just like the average family in Illinois' 7th Congressional District 
who are impacted by this trade agreement whether they like it or not, 
my hope is for them. They want what we all want, to provide to the best 
of their ability for their loved ones.
  My hope is for the people in the district, so that they can obtain a 
living wage, a wage that allows workers to lead a dignified life while 
working in a safe and healthy environment, an environment that respects 
their needs as a worker. Their struggles and desires are not so 
different from mine and my colleagues. They want to put clothes on 
their children's back, they want to put food on the table, have access 
to reliable transportation, live in adequate housing, and afford child 
care for their children. Their issues need to be taken account of and 
they want to be an active part of the debate.
  I hope for a trade agreement that will help to broaden our economy, 
help eradicate poverty, while bringing jobs and a decent quality of 
life to all of those involved. However, based upon recent reports, 
NAFTA, the trade agreement and trade model, has not met its promises. 
Therefore, I believe that any standard of trade, based on the NAFTA 
model, will further threaten the standard of living for working 
families, not only in the United States but in other countries as well.
  The growing trade deficit with Canada and Mexico since NAFTA was 
passed is well-known. As this trade deficit has developed, thousands of 
United States jobs have been lost.
  ``Free traders'' often state that those opposed to NAFTA need to get 
on with the times, often asserting that we are opposed to this treaty 
out of fear for the future. I pronounce that this is just simply not 
the truth. As a matter of fact, those individuals and unions who are 
opposed to NAFTA do so as a result of their great desire to create a 
different kind of future, a future that says that the standard of 
living in this country ought to be spread throughout the world, a 
future that says we do not believe that further reducing the standard 
of living in Third World developing countries is the way for America to 
rise.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I would hope that this country would object, reject, 
extricate itself from the concept that America can advance by allowing 
its businesses and industries to flow away seeking a different kind of 
labor pool, seeking a labor pool that is willing to work because of the 
difficulties that it has had, that is willing to work by undercutting 
and undermining the standard of living that the American society has 
become accustomed to.
  We need to make sure that people all over the world can subscribe to 
the idea that they ought to be paid for the work which they provide; 
that is, they ought to be paid a livable wage that affords them the 
opportunity to seek the very best of what the world has to offer.
  I am grateful for the opportunity to share these thoughts and ideas 
with my colleagues and the American people and suggest that NAFTA is 
not good for America.

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