[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 115 (Thursday, September 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3009, TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 12, 2002

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report 
for H.R. 3009, Trade Act of 2002, which provides for Trade Promotion 
Authority for the President, among other things.
  Globalization is here to stay. With markets now linked globally by 
computers, satellite communications, and advanced transportation 
networks, international trade and investment will play an increasing 
role in American prosperity. We cannot, as a nation, afford to retreat 
from a proactive strategy of trade expansion that takes advantage of 
our position as the world's most prosperous and dynamic economy.
  Trade liberalization is also an important tool towards developing 
responsible global relations. It is a tool, as the preamble of the GATT 
states, for ``raising standards of living, ensuring full employment, 
developing the full use of the resources of the world and expanding the 
production and exchange of goods.'' Indeed, open markets are an 
important engine of economic growth, which can expand opportunities, 
raise living standards, and affect social change. Perhaps most 
importantly, however, trade liberalization provides our nation with an 
additional diplomatic tool and a forum within which our nation may deal 
with international disputes and/or coalition building. Trade's national 
security component cannot be understated.
  Mr. Speaker, on December 6, 2001, I voted for TPA because I believe 
trade expansion is necessary to achieve continued economic growth and 
protect our vital national security interests. House approval of this 
legislation in December helped move the process forward on this 
legislation and made possible a stronger bill from the Senate and a 
conference report that contained many of the important provisions of 
the Senate bill.
  The TPA conference report contained strong trade adjustment 
assistance (TAA) provisions that improved and expanded the current 
program. Indeed, the conference report nearly tripled the existing TAA 
program and set important new precedents regarding coverage for 
displaced workers and health care assistance for the unemployed. This 
bill will, for the first time, allow displaced workers to receive 
assistance in purchasing qualified group health plans and makes them 
eligible for a benefit to pay 65 percent of their health care costs. 
This bill also expands the universe of individuals eligible for 
assistance to include secondary workers and farmers. Finally, the bill 
doubles the amount to be used to retrain displaced workers in new and 
better paying jobs, while creating wage insurance for older employees.
  With specific regard to trade, the conference report improves upon 
the House-passed version by requiring, for the first time, that labor 
and environment issues are ``on par'' with, or given the same 
consideration as, other trade-related issues. These labor and 
environment issues are fully enforceable through dispute resolution 
mechanisms under current law and the bill contains provisions to ensure 
that our U.S. trade laws are protected.
  The conference report also fully addresses investor-state disputes, 
or so-called Chapter 11 issues not contained in the original House-
passed bill. The legislation will (1) ensure that foreign investors in 
the U.S. are not accorded greater rights than U.S. investors; (2) 
establish standards for ``fair and equitable treatment'' consistent 
with U.S. legal principles and practice; (3) set up mechanisms to deter 
and eliminate frivolous claims; (4) provide for public input into the 
formulation of government positions in investor-state dispute 
settlements; and (5) create an appellate body to review these disputes.
  Finally, this agreement will make the process of foreign trade 
agreements more efficient and diplomatic. Although the President will 
form our nation's official policy on trade, Congress will have 
considerable influence over the development of that party through the 
creation of a new Congressional Oversight Committee. Ultimately, 
Congress will also have the authority to check the Administration's 
power by accepting or rejecting the policy.
  TPA is critical for removing remaining trade barriers to exports of 
Kansas' good and services. Kansas exporters still face major trade 
barriers in sectors like civil aircraft and parts, agricultural 
equipment, industrial machinery and auto parts. With the United States 
on the sidelines, foreign competitors are forging ahead and pursuing 
their own market-opening agreements. Kansas' economy is export-
dependent, with export sales of $1,879 for every state resident. More 
than 68,000 Kansas jobs depend on exports of manufactured goods. I 
believe that this agreement strikes a good balance to protect these 
export-dependent jobs, preserve our values with regard to labor and the 
environment, protect our trade laws, and provide unprecedented 
assistance for displaced workers to receive new, and better jobs.

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