[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H10352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               FAST TRACK

  (Mr. STUPAK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, every Member of this House should oppose 
fast track because of labor standards, environmental standards and 
human rights. But there is another very valid reason, that of food 
safety and pesticide use in foreign countries on food coming into this 
country.
  Since the last fast track legislation, NAFTA, it limited our right to 
make border inspections of imported food. So what has happened? Food 
imports are up, inspections are down. What will happen with this new 
fast track deal is more countries will be shipping their food into this 
country. We have not addressed the infrastructure to provide a safety 
net to protect American citizens from food coming into this country. 
That is why in 1997 we have had 3 major outbreaks of disease in this 
country from imported food.
  What do they tell you when you go to foreign countries, Latin America 
and South America? Do not eat the food, do not drink this, do this, get 
a hepatitis shot. So what are we going to do? Have more food come into 
this country and less inspections. Over 3.3 million trucks every day 
cross our borders into this country, many of them carrying food 
products. That is 9,000 trucks per day. One percent is inspected. Let 
us not risk our families' health. Vote no on fast track.

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