[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 69 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          OPPOSITION TO CAFTA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight, joining 
with many of my friends on the Democratic side, because I am opposed to 
CAFTA; and I would like to take just a few minutes to explain why I am 
opposed to CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement; and I like 
to quote from a gentleman I have great respect for, particularly when 
it comes to protecting American jobs, Pat Buchanan.

                              {time}  1930

  The title of his article is called ``CAFTA: Last Nail In The 
Coffin?'' And I will read a few paragraphs from the article. He says, 
``As I write, the Department of Commerce has just released trade 
deficit numbers for February of 2005. Again, the monthly trade deficit 
set a record of $61 billion. In January-February 2005, the annual U.S. 
trade deficit was running $100 billion above the all-time record of 
$617 billion in 2004.''
  Let me go read a little bit more from his article. ``Between 1993 and 
2004, the United States trade deficit with Beijing, China, grew 700 
percent to $162 billion. Since NAFTA which passed a few years ago, the 
U.S. trade surplus with Mexico has vanished and the annual trade 
deficit is now running above $50 billion that we owe Mexico. One-and-a-
half million illegal aliens are caught each year crossing our borders 
and 500,000 make it in to take up residence and enjoy all the social 
programs generous but over-taxed Americans cannot afford to pay.
  ``The highest per capita income in Central America is $9,000 a year 
in Costa Rica, which is less than the U.S. minimum wage, but CAFTA will 
enable agribusiness and transnational companies to set up shop in 
Central America to dump into the United States and drive our last 
family farmers out of business and kill our last manufacturing jobs in 
textiles and apparel.''
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to read just a paragraph from a letter I 
received recently that was not signed. It is a full page and a half. I 
will read one paragraph. I intend to come to the floor day after day 
after day to talk about this issue.
  He says, ``Dear Congressman Jones: It is my understanding that you 
share my deep concern that our country is losing its industrial base. 
We are losing the vital jobs that are so important to support our 
economy and ultimately preserve the excellent standard of living that 
prior generations passed on to us. My view is that leaders in 
government and business are doing an inadequate job of protecting 
America's industrial base.''
  There is no question about that, Mr. Speaker. The gentleman that 
wrote this letter knows because he is a subcontractor.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to show in my great State of North Carolina, 
which I am very proud to be one of 13 representatives, that since NAFTA 
we have lost over 200,000 manufacturing jobs. The United States itself, 
since NAFTA, has lost 2.5 million manufacturing jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, this first chart shows you Pillowtex, which happens to 
be in the district of my dear friend, the gentleman from North 
Carolina's (Mr. Hayes), in July 31 of 2003. It says, ``Pillowtex Goes 
Bust, Erasing 6,450 Jobs.'' The subtitle says, ``5 North Carolina 
plants closing in largest single job loss in State's history.''
  Mr. Speaker, we need to get serious about what is happening to the 
manufacturing jobs in America, and I am very disappointed that this 
administration does not seem to get it.
  I will also say that 2 weeks ago in my home county of Wilson County, 
which I share with the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield), 
it says, ``VF Jeanswear Closes Plant, Last 445 Jobs Gone By Next 
Summer.'' It further states in the article that operations performed in 
Wilson, which include fabric cutting and finishing garments, will be 
moved to Central America.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that we in a bipartisan way can defeat CAFTA, and 
I will do everything I can to help my friends, Republican and Democrat, 
to defeat CAFTA because it is about time that we care about the 
American workers.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask God to please bless our men and women in uniform 
and their families.

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