[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 153 (Thursday, October 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  UNITED STATES-COLOMBIA TRADE PROMOTION AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT

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                               speech of

                           DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 11, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 
3078, the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement 
Implementation Act.
  This trade agreement continues in the NAFTA tradition of trampling on 
human and economic rights.
  Colombia is the world's most dangerous place to be a unionist. More 
trade unionists were killed last year in Colombia than in the rest of 
the world combined. The Labor Action plan signed by Colombia in April 
of this year has not done enough to address these significant human 
rights abuses. Sixteen trade unionists have been killed since it was 
signed. Now we're going to pass a trade agreement that will further 
weaken the rights of workers whose lives are at stake?
  Workers in the U.S. will be hurt by this trade agreement too. The 
Economic Policy Institute estimates that the Colombia FTA will result 
in the loss or displacement of 55,000 U.S. jobs. We have heard the 
promises of economic prosperity from free trade advocates before. Those 
promises have consistently failed to materialize.
  Workers in the U.S. and Colombia cannot afford a NAFTA-style trade 
agreement that significantly weakens their economic security and 
fundamental labor rights.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

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