[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE U.S.-OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

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                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2006

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I have voted against every harmful and 
unbalanced trade agreement that has come before this house. I would 
welcome the opportunity to vote for an agreement with strong and 
enforcable labor and environmental protections. Unfortunately the U.S.-
Oman FTA has neither of these and I will be voting against this bad 
trade deal. The FTA falls way short of the labor protections that must 
be included to make it an acceptable agreement.
  This FTA is just like CAFTA. It looks the same . . . feels the same . 
. . and has the same problems. We need a ``time-out'' on trade and stop 
this ``race to the bottom.'' Our trade policy has not been in the best 
interest of U.S. workers, small businesses, farmers or the economy and 
environment. Our trade agreements have not significantly raised the 
living standards in foreign nations. And U.S. trade policy has forced 
American workers to compete on an uneven playing field.
  We must defeat this harmful and unbalanced U.S.-Oman FTA.

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