[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 172 (Wednesday, December 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            BIPARTISAN TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I believe that international 
trade is very important to improving our nation's economy and would 
gladly vote for a bill encouraging Fair Trade around the globe. I have 
been proud to cast pro-trade votes in this House before; however, I 
cannot support the Thomas bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote no. If 
given the chance, I would like to have an up or down vote on the Rangel 
substitute, but the Majority has produced an unfair, undemocratic rule, 
with little meaningful debate allowed.
  I support trade agreements that provide important safeguards to 
protect the rights of American working families as well as the rights 
of our trading partners' workers. I also support trade agreements that 
protect the global environment. I cannot, however, support this Fast 
Track authority because it will weaken our ability to exercise our 
Constitutional duty to provide oversight of the executive branch. I 
believe that any special authority granted to the President should be 
conditioned upon certain basic requirements that the United States only 
enter into agreements that are mindful of the need to protect the 
workers in all countries participating in the agreement as well as the 
global environment. These safeguards must be in the core text of the 
bill, not promised in future negotiations.
  I believe, though, that our debate today is about more than H.R. 
3005. The Majority Party has failed to provide for our nation's 
immediate needs. Our country has many pressing, economic needs that 
remain unmet by the Leadership of this House. We must act now to raise 
the living standards of workers--both here at home, and abroad. The 
time to act is long overdue.
  The Majority Party has done nothing to address many of those needs. 
It has done nothing to help the thousands of unemployed Americans who 
have lost their jobs in the Bush recession. It has done nothing to help 
workers with their emergency health care needs. It has done nothing to 
pass an economic stimulus that really helps working families.
  I urge my colleagues to vote no on the Thomas bill, and I urge the 
Majority to give us a fair vote on a fair trade bill--the Rangel 
substitute.

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