Political Quotes

“I could not help but feel it necessary to take this special order with the hope that my colleagues in the House, as well as the American people, can appreciate my concerns about the provisions of a certain piece of legislation that was just recently passed by this Chamber. This is in reference to H.R. 3009, the Andean Trade Agreement bill. Mr. Speaker, the current trade policy with regards to canned tuna has provided significant benefits to certain Latin America countries, namely, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, as well as Ecuador, while maintaining an industrial tuna processing base in the United States. Since the enactment of the Andean Trade Agreement 10 years ago, the number of tuna factories in that region, the Andean region in South America, has actually increased by 229 percent. Production capacity now is up 400 percent. Direct employment is up by 257 percent. U.S. exports have grown from about $15 million to $100 million annually. In addition, the U.S. tuna industry has invested well over $30 million in new facilities and vessels. However, I must repeat, extending this agreement by providing duty-free treatment to canned tuna from our Andean friends and countries there in Latin America, especially Ecuador, in my humble opinion, Mr. Speaker, will practically destroy the entire U.S. tuna industry.”