[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1659-E1660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC-CENTRAL AMERICA-UNITED STATES FREE TRADE AGREEMENT 
                           IMPLEMENTATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2005

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to 
vote against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). I would 
like to be clear that I support increasing fair and free trade with our 
allies in Central America, and I appreciate the steps these nations 
have taken to improve business relations with the United States, 
especially among small businesses in my home State of Rhode Island. 
Fair trade between our nations could also help to bridge the 
relationship of our governments, leading to more stability in the 
region. There are several sociological and economic benefits that could 
be achieved through fair trade; unfortunately, those who drafted CAFTA 
did not aim to use this agreement as a vehicle for change, but rather 
chose to honor special interests before addressing the needs of the 
families and children living in those nations that will be most 
affected.
  At a time when our Nation is preparing to pass sweeping trade 
legislation, the Administration has not only cut corners within the 
agreement, but also within the Federal agencies we rely on to regulate 
our global policies. I think this fact is best illustrated by the 
President's funding priorities in this year's budget. He requested, and 
his party's leader's agreed, to cut the International Labor budget by 
86 percent. This funding helps to save children from spending their 
childhoods working in factories with deplorable conditions. I find it 
hard to believe that we can stand here and pass such a sweeping trade 
agreement as we continue to obliterate our ability to protect the 
children and low-wage employees that will be most affected.
  Don't be fooled by those who tell you that there are protections for 
labor in this bill. The fact remains that this agreement simply permits 
Central American nations to ``enforce their own laws.'' Should they 
change their laws, or weaken them in any way, the United States will 
have no recourse to protest this change. In fact, two CAFTA nations 
have already weakened or proposed weakening their basic labor laws 
since the signing of this agreement.
  My colleagues from across the aisle talk about providing increased 
funding for labor protection and enforcement. But that's all it is--
talk. There is absolutely nothing written in this agreement that 
requires the Congress to put money behind their promises, and after 
passing a budget with an 86 percent cut to the program that stops child 
labor, I am not confident that this funding will be present in the

[[Page E1660]]

next budget handed down from the White House. Let us use our trade 
policies to help the world's most vulnerable populations, and take 
advantage of the great power of our nation to lift individuals out of 
poverty, not perpetuate the status quo.

                          ____________________