[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           KYOTO NEGOTIATIONS

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, as the Kyoto negotiations on global 
warming draw near, millions of Americans' jobs are on the chopping 
block. The Clinton administration seems to be willing to sign on to an 
agreement that places the entire burden of reducing carbon emissions on 
the industrialized nations.
  In fact, the current language of the treaty exempts 132 of the 
world's 166 nations. Why is that troubling? Because the nations exempt 
from this U.N. treaty currently produce 50 percent, one-half, of carbon 
emissions and will account for 75 percent of such emissions over the 
next century.
  Therefore, this treaty would provide almost no benefit at all, but 
the economic impact on the United States would be devastating. Placing 
the entire burden on complying with this treaty on countries like the 
United States could turn the Third World into an enterprise zone and 
create a giant sucking sound of American jobs going overseas.
  Mr. Speaker, during the Kyoto negotiations, the Clinton 
administration must protect American workers, demand fairness, and 
reject any treaty that places the entire burden of reducing carbon 
emissions on the United States and on the other industrialized nations. 
Anything less would be like giving jobs away.

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