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Congressman Michaud Introduces Legislation to Repeal Trade Promotion Authority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2003
Contact: Monica Castellanos at 207-782-3704

Today, as the United States House of Representatives debates Free Trade Agreements with Chile and Singapore, Congressman Michael Michaud introduced legislation to repeal Trade Promotion Authority.

Trade Promotion Authority was passed by the 107th Congress by a vote of 215 - 214 with five Members not voting. It allows the President of the United States to negotiate trade agreements with foreign nations and submit his agreements for an up-or-down vote in Congress, but with no ability for Congress to amend the deal, offer advice, or alter problems. The repeal of Trade Promotion Authority would allow Congress to amend faulty labor and environmental standards in trade agreements, and reflect their constituents' concerns about these issues.

"If the people had a voice in how these agreements are reached and could amend those sections that are deemed lacking, then we might have fair trade agreements," Congressman Michaud said.

"I have been a mill worker at the Great Northern Paper Company for 30 years. I have seen first-hand the devastation of so-called free trade agreements on the US economy."

Unfair trade policies have cost the people of Maine nearly 24,000 manufacturing jobs in eight years. In some parts of the Second Congressional District, unemployment is now at a record high of 38%.

Michaud spoke against the Chile and Singapore Free Trade Agreements during debate in the House today. "I don't oppose all free trade agreements categorically," Michaud stated during debate. "But they must be truly free, and they must be truly fair to our workers. Singapore and Chile are neither."

"The problem with these agreements is made far worse by 'Trade Promotion Authority,' which shuts out the people's voice, and even prevents their direct representatives from holding the negotiators responsible for harmful and misguided policies," Congressman Michaud added.

Congressman Michaud's bill already has 14 original cosponsors. He hopes to build support in the coming weeks.

Statement by Representative Michael Michaud Opposing Singapore Free Trade Agreement

Mr. Speaker, the Singapore and Chile agreements are wrong on labor standards, wrong on the environment, wrong on the economy, and wrong for the American people.

I have been a mill worker at the Great Northern Paper Company for 30 years. I have seen first-hand the devastation of so-called free trade agreements on the US economy.

I know what they really mean for working people-almost no one else in this chamber can claim that experience. So please believe me- these kinds of agreements are bad for working Americans.

NAFTA has been nothing but a disaster in my state, costing the people of Maine nearly 24,000 high paying manufacturing jobs in the last 8 years alone. In some parts of my district, unemployment is now over 38%.

Working people don't want the programs and the handouts that we have created to clean up the mess after a trade agreement-they want to keep their own jobs.

Now, I don't oppose all free trade agreements categorically. But they must be truly free, and they must be truly fair to our workers. Singapore and Chile are neither.

Mr. Speaker, the problem with these agreements is made far worse by "Trade Promotion Authority," which shuts out the people's voice, and even prevents their direct representatives from holding the negotiators responsible for harmful and misguided policies.

That is why today, I am introducing a bill to repeal Trade Promotion Authority. If the people had a voice in how these agreements are reached and could amend those sections that are deemed lacking, then we might have fair trade agreements. In fact, we might not even need this debate today.

I urge all of my colleagues to cosponsor my bill, and to oppose the Singapore and Chile Agreements.

Stand up for the working Americans who sent us here to fight for them.