[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19857-19858]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 BIPARTISANSHIP IN DANGER OF SHATTERING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, at a time when people are justifiably 
concerned about the spread of toxic agents in our mail system here on 
Capitol Hill, I personally have a greater fear that we are going to 
fall prey to an agent that I think, in its own way, is every bit as 
toxic. The bipartisanship and cooperative problem-solving that the 
President and our legislative leadership have talked about and that the 
American public needs, not just symbolically, but in a practical, 
hardheaded way, is in danger of being shattered.

                              {time}  1245

  Everybody here on Capitol Hill knows that, to date, the reality is 
not quite as bright as the rhetoric and the promise. Our desperate 
desire for unity and cooperation has temporarily obscured some deep 
divisions.
  There were rocky times on several items in the aftermath of the 
tragedy on September 11, although it appeared as though the President's 
challenge was being met by the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker 
Hastert) and the Democrats, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt).
  A series of three events has the potential to deal a body blow to our 
fragile accord.
  The first, unfortunately, has already occurred, with an unnecessary 
decision by the President and the Republican leadership to abandon a 
carefully crafted, bipartisan antiterrorist bill from the Committee on 
the Judiciary. They replaced it at the last minute, without 
consultation and without even the opportunity for amendment, and 
without Members on this Chamber floor knowing fully the implications of 
what they were voting on, and locked it into statute for years to come.
  The second threat is brewing as we speak. The economic stimulus 
package which, without the President's steady hand and the leadership 
of the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert), is going to turn into 
a grab bag of tax cuts that are to be charitable, wildly controversial, 
and extremely problematic in terms of affecting our economic recovery.
  Here again, this is legislation that does not need to happen 
immediately. We can take our time and do it right in a cooperative and 
thoughtful fashion.
  Last, and it is important and perhaps most frustrating, there is 
legislation that may be advanced that is designed to accentuate our 
differences on international trade, instead of enhancing bipartisan 
cooperation that is possible.
  There is a little contest that is brewing between the legislation of 
the gentleman from California (Chairman Thomas) and that of the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) and the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Levin), differences that are significant but not insurmountable.

[[Page 19858]]

  If the decision is made to force this through and draw bright lines 
on trade issues instead of bringing us together, more than just an 
opportunity will be lost on the divisive and potentially explosive 
issue of trade. We could also slow the bipartisan momentum that is 
needed to deal appropriately with the threats of terrorism and the 
dangers to our economy.
  The American public deserves better. This is a unique opportunity to 
do our best. The President and the Republican leadership should join 
with the Democratic leadership rising to this occasion.
  The President can start today by insisting that any bill for trade 
promotion authority needs to have at least 250 votes on this floor, and 
we can do it. It should make serious advances in promoting trade while 
protecting the environment, worker rights, and having legislation that 
does not put foreign investor interests ahead of those that are of 
legitimate American and private citizen interests. He should exercise 
the unique leadership opportunity that he has to bring Congress and the 
American public together.
  As our President and the legislative leadership have all united in 
communicating to the American public, we are in a long-term struggle. 
We are going to need the executive to do its job, we need Congress to 
function, we need to be able to trust each other, and we need our 
committees to operate the way that they are designed to do.
  We all need to do our best. We can start with the contentious issue 
of international trade and make it into a bipartisan victory for us 
all.

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