Hilda L. Solis: “today I also rise to join my colleagues in opposition to the Dominican Republic Central American Free Trade Agreement…”

“today I also rise to join my colleagues in opposition to the Dominican Republic Central American Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) and other Members of Congress will shortly be speaking for a special hour to take note of the negative effects that CAFTA will have not only on the American public, but also our relatives and friends that live in Central America. I have the distinction of being one of the few Members of Congress with family that lives in Central America. I have seen firsthand for myself the conditions that people are currently living in there right now, in a small country known as Nicaragua where the poverty levels are just outrageous. There is no relief that will come through CAFTA, in my opinion. As I see it right now, what we have learned from the NAFTA trade agreement that was passed some 10 years ago, before I came to this House, we will see the same pillaging occur with individuals who represent Central American countries, particularly young women. The pattern does not change. In my visit there 2 years ago, I had a chance to see women outside at 5 o'clock in the morning, over 300 women lining up to enter into these maquilas, these assembly plants, if you will, in free trade zones that were set up in El Salvador and Nicaragua.…”