[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 174 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            BIPARTISAN TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 6, 2001

  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to 
H.R. 3005, the Trade Promotion Authority Act. I believe in free trade 
that is also fair trade, and this bill does not ensure that our future 
trade agreements will fit that description.
  I strongly feel that we have to learn from the experience of the 
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which has been a failure. 
Since NAFTA our trade deficit with Mexico has increased, the 
environment along the US/Mexico border has gravely suffered, consumer 
safety has been put at risk due to the importation of goods that are 
poorly inspected, and manufacturing jobs in states like Rhode Island 
have been put at risk as employers leave for Mexico and other 
countries.
  I also am concerned about the role that international organizations 
such as the World Trade Organization have on our national sovereignty. 
Our hard-fought federal, state, and local regulations that protect our 
consumers and environment will be put at risk by H.R. 3005. The bill 
would allow our environmental agreements that safeguard biodiversity, 
control the use of particular pollutants, and preserve our most 
endangered species, to be challenged as unacceptable barriers to trade.
  Another major problem with the bill is its failure to learn from 
NAFTA's mistakes when it comes to corporate investment. Foreign 
corporations are using NAFTA's Chapter 11 on investment to challenge 
core governmental functions. Rhode Islanders need to be particularly 
concerned about this. We need to learn from the experience of the State 
of California which has been sued by the Canadian company, Methanex, 
because of California's ban on MTBE, a gasoline additive. This example 
is particularly pertinent to Rhode Island, because the Pascoag water 
district of Burrillville, Rhode Island has a contaminated water supply 
from MTBE. If we pass The Trade Promotion Authority Act, we need to be 
aware that we open the door to place Rhode Island laws and regulations 
at the mercy of foreign firms.
  For all of these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 
3005 and in support of the Levin-Rangel substitute.

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