Bart Stupak: “every Member of this House should oppose fast track because of labor standards, environmental standards and human…”

“every Member of this House should oppose fast track because of labor standards, environmental standards and human rights. But there is another very valid reason, that of food safety and pesticide use in foreign countries on food coming into this country. Since the last fast track legislation, NAFTA, it limited our right to make border inspections of imported food. So what has happened? Food imports are up, inspections are down. What will happen with this new fast track deal is more countries will be shipping their food into this country. We have not addressed the infrastructure to provide a safety net to protect American citizens from food coming into this country. That is why in 1997 we have had 3 major outbreaks of disease in this country from imported food. What do they tell you when you go to foreign countries, Latin America and South America? Do not eat the food, do not drink this, do this, get a hepatitis shot. So what are we going to do? Have more food come into this country and less inspections. Over 3.3 million trucks every day cross our borders into this country, many of them carrying food products. That is 9,000 trucks per day. One percent is inspected. Let us not risk our families' health. Vote no on fast track.”