[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 166 (Tuesday, December 4, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H8750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  VOTING FOR TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, when we vote in 2 days on Trade 
Promotion Authority, nothing less than American leadership in the world 
is at stake.
  As we lead the world in an effort to eradicate terrorism, we risk 
abdicating our position of leadership in an area that is just as vital 
to America's well-being and that is international trade.
  The United States has been falling rapidly behind the rest of the 
world in international trade. I said rapidly behind. There are more 
than 130 trade agreements in effect in the world today, but the United 
States is party to just three.
  For the world's most open society, the U.S., which should be leading 
the charge to open up other countries to our products, this is a sorry 
state of affairs.
  We have a chance on Thursday to reclaim the mantle of leadership by 
passing TPA. When we do, the exports will go abroad; and the high 
paying jobs will stay here.
  I urge all my colleagues to support TPA.

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