[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 5, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H8848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SUPPORT TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY

  (Mr. CRANE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I just heard the gentlewoman from Minnesota 
commenting about Trade Promotion Authority, and there were a couple of 
comments that she made that I think need clarification.
  One of these is the President has trade negotiating authority and has 
always had trade negotiating authority. What TPA does is let us 
participate in the process during the negotiating process, with 
consultation before, during and after the agreement is reached with 
another country.
  The important thing to keep in mind is we had President Clinton go 
forward with his executive authority to negotiate that agreement with 
Jordan. He did bring it back, and we ultimately have the authority to 
vote it up or vote it down; that authority is retained.
  I hope the gentlewoman will look at this, because TPA gives us 
greater opportunity for involvement in the process than anything that 
we have done in the past. Please, we need support on both sides of the 
aisle. It is a bipartisan issue.

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