[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H8538-H8539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      FAST TRACK SHOULD BE PASSED

  (Mr. NETHERCUTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, American farmers are facing a huge 
challenge of low commodity prices and unfair competition from foreign 
governments. Tomorrow, Congress will take up the issue of fast track 
authority for this administration. Even though I have serious questions 
about giving this administration any authority on trade issues, 
considering its record, I do support fast track authority because of 
the very important part of the bill that assures agriculture full 
participation in trade negotiations.
  Mr. Speaker, by this provision, trade agreements reached will be 
agriculture-sensitive. An ag representative, a trade representative, 
will monitor and report back to Congress whether such agreements and 
negotiation will help or hurt agriculture.

[[Page H8539]]

  The key to agriculture's success is to open foreign markets so we can 
sell our commodities overseas. The fast track bill provides agriculture 
a seat at the tariff reduction table, all subject to final 
congressional approval. It should be passed.

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