[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

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                               speech of

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2005

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, here we go again. With the 
economy in shambles, we are here today discussing free trade in the 
form of CAFTA. My colleagues, if passed, this free trade bill would be 
a net loss for American workers, for the environment, and for the local 
workers in Central America as well. So you may ask . . . who wins if 
CAFTA passes? Simple enough. As has too often been the case with this 
administration, the folks at the country clubs would win. Yes, the same 
people who benefit from the Bush administration's tax cut plans for the 
wealthy . . . the very same people who have been benefiting since 
President Bush took office back in 2000, all at the expense of our 
Nation's working people!
  CAFTA does not care whether or not you use child labor or forced 
labor. It does not care whether multinational companies pollute our 
planet's water and poison our air. This is a treaty that clearly says 
we do not care how safe the products are that we import, no . . . this 
trade agreement, just like NAFTA and free trade policies in general, 
serves just one purpose: To make the richer even richer, while keeping 
our Nation's workforce at the bottom of the barrel.
  Even under the Clinton administration, we were promised more jobs, 
yet what happened? Millions and millions of American workers found 
themselves out of work! Workers' lives have been ruined, their families 
have been torn and uprooted, and in fact, entire agricultural 
industries like the tomato industry in Florida have suffered. In fact, 
for the past decade, Florida vegetable growers, especially tomato and 
bell pepper farmers, have been nearly put out of business! My State's 
citrus crop, which is often considered the jewel of Florida's 
agriculture production, is facing greater and greater pressure from 
Mexico every day. Indeed, if this trade agreement passes, it could 
easily drive this important industry right out of business!
  I yield back the balance of my time and encourage everyone in this 
building to cast a vote against this bill, and to vote in favor of 
America's workers, in favor of our farmers, in favor of the 
environment, and in favor of what's right for our Nation!

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