[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17756]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              KEEPING AMERICAN IDEALS ALIVE THROUGH CAFTA

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago, the Caribbean and Central 
America were inflamed with a virus that we called communism. It was in 
its ascendancy. Thanks to the courageous vision and leadership of 
President Ronald Reagan and many on both sides of the aisle in this 
Congress, the people of the United States of America invested in 
freedom.
  Now, 20 years hence, we see fledgling democracies, even democracies 
that have sent soldiers to stand with our soldiers in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. It is that nightmare turned into a dream of democracy that is 
at stake today in the vote on the Central American Free Trade 
Agreement.
  Having stood with those who stood for freedom 20 years ago, let us 
not in this Congress and in this Nation turn our backs today on those 
same fledgling democracies that are embracing our principles of free 
market economics and freedom. Say yes to freedom in Central America. 
Vote ``yes'' on CAFTA, and keep the dream of ever-expanding democracy 
and American ideals in our hemisphere alive.

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