[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H8289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TIME TO FOCUS ON ENFORCEMENT OF TRADE AGREEMENTS

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I support free trade in principle, but I am 
troubled about its practice in America today. The State of Indiana has 
lost more manufacturing jobs than any other State in the Union. 
Virtually every major manufacturer in my eastern Indiana District has 
shed jobs since this recession began in the latter months of 2000, with 
one exception, and this week that company announced the elimination of 
600 jobs in an entire foundry in central Indiana.
  I just came from a meeting with the Secretary of Commerce, Don Evans. 
I commend the Secretary and the President for the appointment of a new 
Assistant Secretary of Manufacturing for establishing an unfair trade 
practices team. It is time for this administration to focus on 
enforcement of our trade agreements, with special emphasis on China and 
Mexico. Make them be as good as their word, Mr. Speaker, and it is also 
time to explain to American industry that shifting jobs overseas for 
short-term profits serves neither them, their shareholders nor their 
Nation in the long term.

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