[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 96 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H5495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                VOTE ``NO'' ON OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

  (Mr. MICHAUD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, last night several of our colleagues stood 
on this floor and listed all of the terrorists that are no longer 
threats to the United States. I couldn't be more pleased that this list 
of potential threats is getting shorter. So why are we going to vote 
today on a proposal that will add major new threats to that list?
  The Oman Free Trade Agreement would require the United States to 
allow any Omani company to provide landside U.S. port activities if 
they so choose. A new CRS report confirms that fact.
  We know that al Qaeda wants to launch more attacks here. Do you think 
that this deal presents a golden opportunity for al Qaeda to infiltrate 
our ports, to smuggle weapons of mass destruction into the United 
States?
  Last year more than 11 million cargo containers entered the United 
States. Do you want a company in Oman managing this flow of who knows 
what into our borders? Would you let any company that operates in Oman 
run our airport security?
  The Oman Free Trade Agreement hands over the keys to any company that 
operates in Oman. Think about it, and vote ``no'' on this stupid, 
ridiculous deal.
  When the American people find out about the port provision of this 
agreement they will be outraged.

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