[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 120 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRESS MUST RENEW FAST-TRACK

  (Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, shortly the House may help 
bring around a better future for American agriculture when we vote to 
extend fast-track negotiating authority.
  The best way to secure a better economic future for agriculture is to 
expand our export markets overseas. With just 4 percent of the world's 
population, U.S. agriculture must export in order to remain a viable 
industry. Nearly one-half of the wheat produce in this country is 
exported. Thirty percent of the feed grains and cotton is exported. 
There are estimates that 47 percent of our soybean crop will be 
exported. One out of every three acres we plant in this country is 
dedicated to exports.
  That is why Congress must dedicate itself to step boldly into world 
trade negotiations next year. Congress must work with the 
administration to get lower foreign tariffs for agriculture goods; stop 
or limit the use of foreign trading enterprises used to block or 
underbid our U.S. exports; stopping the use of sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures to block U.S. exports; and to increase foreign 
tariff rate quotas.
  Mr. Speaker, fast-track is a no-brainer for American agriculture. 
Pass fast-track.

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