[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H10351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        VOTE AGAINST FAST TRACK

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against giving 
the President fast track authority in order to ensure that new trade 
agreements advance the interests of U.S. workers as well as the health 
and safety of all Americans.
  My opposition to fast track is based on our experience with NAFTA, 
which I believe has been a dismal failure. In 3 years since NAFTA was 
implemented, the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico has skyrocketed, 
leading to the loss of hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs. 
Environmental problems along the border with Mexico have gotten worse. 
Drug trafficking has increased. The public health in the United States 
has been threatened by the importation of tainted food.
  The President made all kinds of promises with NAFTA a few years ago 
and is making more promises now. But these promises in the form of 
NAFTA side agreements on the environment and labor have not been kept. 
I urge my colleagues to vote against fast track. Do not be led astray 
by false promises again.

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