The issue we will discuss today is the Department of Labor's abuse of this discretion when applying the hot goods provision to perishable agricultural commodities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to talk about the issue of impeachment; and in connection with that topic, I would use as my text the song some of us may remember by Janet Jackson, ``What Have You Done for Me Lately?'' That is what we…

Let me be clear, neither I nor anyone else on this Committee condones violations in regard to the Fair Labor Standards Act in any way.

We believe it is important to provide fair wages for agricultural workers yet this law was not intended for use with regards to fresh fruits and vegetables which perish more easily than a manufactured good.

To be clear, the Labor Department has authority to compel specialty crop producers and packers to reimburse workers when wages fall short of the minimum wage requirement WITHOUT using the hot goods provision.

From my experience in Africa, getting the African countries to recognize intellectual property protection, worker rights, standards like we do in the United States, pay attention to corruption and have a more stable environment in which to…

if we are ever going to get to the goal, which is a foundation for free trade agreements with African countries that are compliant, we ought to have some tiered levels of accomplishment or participation

I think, every time we look the other way and put off the inevitable--that is, giving the President the authority under TPA that he needs...

I think former Chairman, now Ranking Member Hatch's point on TPA should be noted to this extent.

should we not have a tiered way for somebody to come back, like Swaziland, to get back into the AGOA agreement?

I want to brag about Ambassador Froman for a minute.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate for up to 5 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Madam President, I want to commend Chairman Sanders for his leadership. Last night at 9:30 p.m., I came back to the Capitol and executed a conference agreement that he has worked very hard on, and ranking member Senator Burr worked very…

There is no legitimate reason. There is no timing. There is nothing but the arrogance of the EPA.

I don't think that we should really be treating one person's property rights differently because they made their innovation using software rather than hardware.

The reason this program concerns me is it discriminates against one type of technology, computer-implemented inventions, over all others.

We can do it tersely, efficiently, and get it over with.

Mr. Speaker, as we come here today, one of the things that strikes me--and, of course, I support the rule and the underlying bill, H.R. 4315, because it really strikes a balance and, as part of the working group that has been meeting under…