Lateefah Simon: “I buy many of the arguments that my friends from Hawaii and Alaska used. I voted for NAFTA. I voted for GATT. In…”

“I buy many of the arguments that my friends from Hawaii and Alaska used. I voted for NAFTA. I voted for GATT. In general, we have to have reciprocity in terms of trade. But we also have, in theory, a Buy American Act, which is, frankly, toothless. So I think we need something that is a little stronger. Let me add that this amendment is more narrowly crafted than the House amendment. The House amendment introduced by my House colleague, Congressman Dick Durbin, is stronger than this amendment. But this amendment at least says, let us find out what percentages are made in the United States and what percentages abroad. In response to my friend from Alaska, who said this is going to mean a lot of work, I have a news release--and it is fairly typical--from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense about various contracts. Here is a contract awarded to McDonnell Douglas that says, ``Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, 70 percent, and in the United Kingdom, 30 percent.'' So they are doing some of this right now. All we are saying is that the percent that is manufactured in the United States should be of high importance--not the sole consideration, but should be of high importance.”