[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3389-S3390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ACTION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND SENATE DEMOCRATS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on leader time, I would like to just make a 
couple comments on two events that took place last Wednesday.
  On that day, two organizations made decisions that were very 
disappointing to me. One of those organizations was the European Union 
and the other was the Senate Democrats. I was disappointed by the 
Senate Democrats because they chose to filibuster a very important 
piece of legislation that is critical to our jobs base, to our 
manufacturing jobs base. That bill is called ``Jumpstart Our Business 
Strength, (JOBS) Act,'' which is an important bill. In fact, the title 
itself--``Jumpstart Our Business Strength''--underscores the importance 
of this manufacturing jobs bill.
  I was also disappointed by the European Union's action to impose a 
record fine of $610 million against a company, Microsoft, because it, 
frankly, demonstrates arrogance, I think--arrogance--requiring 
Microsoft to sell a version of Windows that we are all familiar with 
without the built-in ability to play audio files or video files.
  I mention both of these incidents really almost in the same breath 
because they occurred on the very same day last week, and they are 
illustrative of the choice that is facing America and Americans today.
  I released a statement last week and pointed out these overreaching 
attempts to register e-commerce. They

[[Page S3390]]

include trade barriers against American beef and other agricultural 
products, and they all demonstrate the European Union relentlessly 
pursuing these protectionist policies that disproportionately harm 
America's workers.
  The JOBS Act is a bill that is absolutely critical for us to address. 
As I said, the fact that the Democrats chose to filibuster that bill 
has been very disappointing to me. It was developed in a strong 
bipartisan fashion, coming through the Finance Committee with every 
single Democrat on the committee voting in favor of the bill, including 
the Democratic leader and the junior Senator from Massachusetts.
  It is absolutely essential that we address this bill and that we pass 
this bill in order to accelerate job creation in this country. The 
purpose of it is to bring our trade laws in compliance with our trade 
agreements and at the same time provide some of the badly needed 
reforms to further stimulate manufacturing growth. I mention both of 
these issues because I think both need to continue to be addressed. I 
hope we can work out an appropriate arrangement to address the JOBS 
bill in the very near future.
  I yield the floor, Mr. President.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Virginia.

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