[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 154 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FAST-TRACK LEGISLATION

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I agree with President Clinton's goal of 
creating economic growth through more export opportunities, but I must 
vote against this legislation to renew fast-track authority because it 
fails to protect our workers and our environment.
  I understand that exports are a key ingredient of Vermont's economic 
growth. As a small State, we must rely on selling our products beyond 
the Green Mountains. Exports give Vermonters the opportunity to create 
good jobs right here in Vermont through rising trade. For instance, 
Cabot Creamery recently made headlines by selling its Vermont-made 
cheddar cheese in London, England.
  Vermonters are reaping the benefits of more open markets around the 
world, where we can sell our high quality goods. Since 1992, Vermont 
exports are up 29 percent, with 70,000 Vermonters now working in 
export-related jobs. On a per capita basis, Vermont is the largest 
exporter of goods among the 50 States. We just need to look at the 
Vermont expansion of Husky, a Canadian company with European plants, to 
understand the importance of trade in the world economy.
  I will continue to work with Vermonters to encourage exporting of our 
goods and services as a path for prosperity for ourselves, our 
children, and our grandchildren.
  But trade is about more than economic statistics, it is a moral issue 
as well. Just as the fight to ban landmines worldwide is the right 
thing to do, free trade must also be fair. Fair trade expands exporting 
opportunities. But just as importantly, fair trade safeguards our 
standard of living by supporting our absolute right to a clean 
environment and sound labor practices.
  In earlier times workers' rights and environmental concerns were 
mostly separated from trade considerations, but that has begun to 
change. In today's global economy, the interaction between trade and 
the rights of workers and environmental protections cannot be ignored. 
One of the reasons I voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement 
[NAFTA] was because it contained side agreements on labor and 
environmental issues--the first trade agreement to ever link these 
issues together.
  But, unfortunately, this fast-track authority bill moves away from 
the critical link between trade and labor and the environment that we 
fought so hard to forge in NAFTA. Under the terms of this bill, even 
the modest labor and environmental side agreements under NAFTA would be 
excluded from fast-track consideration. That is unacceptable.
  Like the NAFTA debate, the rhetoric on both sides of this debate is 
overblown. I do not believe the lack of fast-track authority will 
cripple future trade negotiations. Since fast-track authority lapsed in 
1994, the administration has successfully negotiated hundreds of trade 
pacts with countries around the world. As the world's only superpower 
with a market of more than 250 million consumers, the United States 
will continue to command the economic power to open markets and expand 
export opportunities with or without the President having fast-track 
authority.
  I do not believe the Congress should lightly hand over its right to 
amend, even in the consideration of trade agreements. In no other area 
of legislation does Congress give up its constitutional right to offer 
amendments. If the Congress has no more recourse on these issues than 
to vote trade agreements up or down, the key question to ask is: Does 
this bill give the President the authority to negotiate trade 
agreements that protect the rights of all our citizens? It does not.
  I had hoped that when fast-track legislation reached the Senate floor 
it would have allowed for expanding export opportunities while 
protecting our workers and our environment. This bill fails to deliver 
those necessary protections. As a result, I will vote against it.

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