[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10323-H10324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE RECIPROCAL TRADE AGREEMENT AUTHORITIES ACT

  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 today in opposition to 
fast track. Mr. Speaker, the labor movement has always been the home of 
the American worker. It has been the safe haven for the American dream. 
But today we are in a time of conflict. There are contemptuous winds 
blowing in the direction of the American worker.
  I have always believed that democracy vests its rights in the living 
person: one person, one vote. However, the economic markets recognize 
only money, not people: one dollar, one vote. These markets give no 
choice to the workers or their families. When the market seeks solely 
to make a profit, it is an instrument of oppression. It is an 
instrument which allows the few to monopolize society's resources, 
leaving the less fortunate without health care, jobs, and other means 
of livelihood.
  Some say that the opponents of fast track would stop United States 
participation in the global economy and threaten our Nation's jobs. 
Supporters say fast track helps our country stay competitive and 
maintain a strong economy by ending unfair trade barriers imposed by 
foreign governments.
  Throughout my public career I have always been an advocate for 
equality and fairness, but I recognize the difference between fairness 
and laissez faire-ness. This trade agreement will only consider 
corporate interest deals, while efforts to improve the conditions of 
workers' rights are muffled.
  According to a University of Illinois study, the city of Chicago lost 
80,000 manufacturing jobs between the years 1980 and 1990. These jobs 
were jobs that enabled workers to purchase homes, pay college tuition, 
participate in the American dream. At present, my district has recently 
lost five industries to other countries, leaving 704 workers unemployed 
and jobless.
  Mr. Speaker, markets are important institutions, and they have an 
essential place in any democratic society, as long as these markets 
function within the framework of democratically determined rules and 
public safeguards.
  I am in support of American competitiveness and want a democratically 
fair playing ground for all of our country's companies. But there is 
nothing democratic about giving jobs to other countries. There is 
nothing democratic about reducing American workers' benefits and wages. 
There is nothing democratic about environmental deregulation, and there 
is nothing democratic about ignoring the rights of thousands of workers 
for the approval of a few companies.
  A. Phillip Randolph once said:

       At the banquet table of life, there are no reserved seats. 
     You get what you can take, and you keep what you can hold. If 
     you can't take anything, you won't get anything, and

[[Page H10324]]

     if you can't hold anything, you won't keep anything.

  A. Phillip Randolph was so right. So today let us take back workers' 
rights, so that the American workers can hold onto their lives and hold 
on and make real the American dream.

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