[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 61 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4291-S4292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TRADE LEGISLATION

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, we are finally moving forward on the trade 
bill. I hope we can move quickly. It is one of the more important 
issues before us, of which there are many. I say again, I hope we can 
take a look at this bill in terms of what it is designed to do, and 
that is to provide for the President an outline of how he may negotiate 
trade agreements and bring those

[[Page S4292]]

trade agreements, within the guidelines in the bill now, to the Senate, 
and the Senate can approve or disapprove.
  Negotiations have to be done broadly by two parties. It cannot be 
done by 535 Members of Congress. I am hopeful we can get down to the 
core issue with regard to trade so that the United States can keep up 
with the rest of the world.
  Over the past 10 years, since 1994 when this trade authority has not 
been in place, countries around the world have moved forward with 
various agreements, and the United States has not been able to do that. 
Large agreements were made by others.
  The more amendments we have, the more difficult it will be to get 
down to what we are really seeking to do, and that is to have 
negotiations which will give the United States fair opportunities for 
trade.

                          ____________________