[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15149]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           GRANTING PRESIDENT BUSH TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 2 minutes.
  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives will 
consider legislation granting President Bush trade promotion authority. 
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Why do we need restored trade promotion authority to the President 
and to America? The answer is jobs and our children's future. Currently 
the United States is at a severe disadvantage when we have to compete 
with the rest of the world. Not because of the quality of our products. 
They are high. But because of the trade barriers we face abroad. 
According to a report released earlier this year of the estimated 130 
free trade agreements around the world, only two today include the 
United States.
  Giving the President this authority to negotiate on our behalf would 
help give America the tools we need to break down the barriers abroad 
so we can sell American goods and services around the world and the 
potential is huge. Ninety-six percent of the world lives outside the 
United States. Ninety-six percent of the world lives outside our 
borders. While they cannot all buy the products we buy today, someday 
they will, and we want them to buy American products.
  Here is an interesting static. Half the adults in the world today, 
half the adults in the world have yet to make their first telephone 
call. Well, if it is European countries to sell those telephone 
systems, they will create European jobs. If they are Asian companies 
that sell those telephone systems, they will create Asian jobs. If they 
are American companies that sell those telephone systems, we will 
create American jobs.
  These are jobs for our future and for our children going through the 
schools today.
  Countries around the world are hesitant to negotiate trade agreements 
with us. They are scared Congress will change every agreement 1,000 
different ways after it has been negotiated. What trade promotion 
authority does, it gives Congress, your representatives, a final say on 
whether an agreement is fair and free. I want that say.
  Mr. Speaker, in order to keep America the greatest economic power in 
the world, we have to be able to compete in the trade arena. The only 
way we will be able to do this is by granting President Bush trade 
promotion authority on our behalf.

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