[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1737-E1738]
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. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2005

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed that 
this House approved the Dominican Republic-Central America-United 
States Free Trade Agreement last evening. As I listened to my 
colleagues who voted for this bill, I could not help but wonder if we 
were voting on the same piece of legislation.
  Contrary to what many of my colleagues have said, the CAFTA will not 
help American workers and will not save American jobs. Also, our 
exports to DR-CAFTA countries are already at full capacity for what 
those countries can consume. Therefore, talk of spurring U.S. exports 
to the region is empty rhetoric designed to deceive the uninformed 
person. Instead, DR-CAFTA will increase off-shore production and 
services and will continue to

[[Page E1738]]

cause a decline in the standard of living among the American working 
class.
  Under this Agreement, our Central American neighbors will have 
restricted access to generic pharmaceuticals. This will increase drug 
prices, including lifesaving HIV/AIDS drugs and medicines putting their 
health and lives at risk. Surely, Mr. Speaker, you have heard the 
anguish of Americans who cannot afford basic prescription drugs in this 
prosperous land of ours. Can you imagine what it will be like for our 
neighbors who subsist on wages of less than $2 per day to pay for 
higher drug prices? Where is the humanity in this?
  Our Central American neighbors are poor--forty percent of them earn 
less than $2 per day. The vast majority of them are forced to work 
under harsh labor conditions. Many women suffer from sexual harassment 
and discrimination at the work place. Employment places lack basic 
hygienic facilities, especially for women. In fact, it is fair to say 
that the Agreement lacks meaningful incentives for employers to uphold, 
enforce or comply even with current labor standards.
  Let us not fool ourselves--this Agreement will not lift our neighbors 
out of poverty, will not improve their working conditions, and will not 
help the ordinary worker, whether in Central America or here at home. 
Instead, this Agreement will displace family farmers, harm small 
business and force these workers into lower paying jobs.
  I wish I could have voted for the DR-CAFTA because I believe trade is 
a way to lift people out of poverty. But it must be fair trade that 
also respects labor standards, the environment and allows human 
dignity. Fair trade must be fair for both America's families and 
families of other countries with fair living wages while protecting the 
environment.
  Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed that this was not and 
balanced trade agreement. I hope that Americans will take a good look 
at where our country is headed. I feel for my countrymen and I feel for 
the people of the DR-CAFTA region.

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