[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24093]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 CAFTA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CASS BALLENGER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 2004

  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, during my nearly two decades in Congress, 
our country has made major efforts throughout the world to develop the 
growth and success of democratic governments. Because of our efforts in 
Central America over the years, the specter of Communism has receded 
and the democracies and economies of El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua 
and Honduras are beginning to flourish. These countries have now had at 
least three peaceful changes of government through elections. I think 
we in this body should be proud of the part we have played in their 
success.
  Mr. Speaker, much of this success is due to opening up trade between 
the U.S. and Central America. With the Caribbean Basin Initiative, we 
have helped build growing economies based on trade with the United 
States. More prosperity in CBI countries leads to more successful 
democratic governments in this hemisphere and more prosperity and 
security here at home.
  At the present time we are undertaking a similar mission in the 
Middle East. Increasing democracy and freedom in that region is vital 
to the war on terrorism and America's security. However, we must not 
let our focus on Iraq and Afghanistan cause us to forget the work that 
remains to be done to strengthen our neighbors in Central America. We 
have come too far to abandon them now.
  Five Central American nations and the Dominican Republic have 
negotiated a free trade agreement with the United States that, despite 
concerns voiced by some in this country, is beneficial to all 
concerned. The presidents of the Central American nations have approved 
this agreement and these nations are now waiting for us to join them in 
making the Central American Free Trade Agreement a reality.
  Mr. Speaker, as we continue to divert our attention elsewhere, time 
is running out for our legislature to approve DR-CAFTA. Without this 
agreement, the democracies we have helped build in Central America will 
be less prosperous in the increasingly competitive global marketplace. 
Unless we allow these fledgling democracies the access they need to 
compete with the rising tide of Chinese imports, they will be more 
likely to revert to corrupt regimes that base their existence on trade 
in illegal drugs instead of trade in goods and services.
  It would be a tragedy to abandon our Central American neighbors now. 
We in this body have done so much to foster democracy and economic 
stability in Central America--we cannot allow them to fail at this 
crucial moment. I urge my colleagues to support DR-CAFTA and I urge the 
House leadership to bring it to the floor for a vote this year.

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