[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H10184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        H. RES. 298: A VALUABLE TOOL TO PROTECT AMERICAN WORKERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 2 minutes.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I and over 200 of my colleagues are 
cosponsors of House Resolution 298. The Seattle discussions on 
international trade will begin on November 30. Unfortunately, some 
nations wish to circumvent the agreed upon list of topics and reopen 
the very contentious issue of World Trade Organization rules against 
dumping and against subsidies.
  In the U.S. we already make our workers compete against foreign 
workers whose governments do not enforce the same standards on wages, 
on environmental protection, safety laws, and legal protections. 
Furthermore, we have flung open the doors of the American market. Let 
us not kid ourselves. Foreign governments will respect the U.S. worker 
only to the extent that the U.S. Government forces them to.
  In these trade talks there is nothing left to give away except 
competitive, productive American jobs and that is unacceptable. Some in 
this body would define free trade by actions that amount to unilateral 
economic disarmament. Yet I would point out that every Member of 
Congress whose State benefits from a manufacturing plant built by a 
foreign company and employing U.S. workers owes a debt to President 
Ronald Reagan who knew how to get tough on trade when necessary.
  If a foreign trade negotiator in Seattle proposes weakening U.S. 
laws, our administration officials need to say we will discuss nothing 
until they put that proposal back in their folder.
  The passage of this resolution will be a valuable tool for the 
administration to protect American workers at these talks. I urge the 
House leadership to put H. Res. 298 on the schedule as soon as 
possible.

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