Pete Stark: “the first thing is, here we go again. If we are rewarding an ally for helping us in Iraq, where I understand there are…”

“the first thing is, here we go again. If we are rewarding an ally for helping us in Iraq, where I understand there are no Bahranian troops, but we have got a Navy base. Well, if we are paying off for a Navy base, how about Cuba? Why do we not throw these guys in? I think we have got a big base in Cuba where we are torturing prisoners, so why not toss them in if that is the reason for going into this free trade agreement. The problem with the Bahrain Free Trade Agreement is the same ones that we have had with Australia, Morocco, CAFTA. And the administration keeps sending the same flawed arguments and agreements. I have supported trade. But it has got to be fair before it can be free. And unfortunately, this administration does not see it that way. Like our recent free trade agreements, it fails to promote basic labor rights, environmental standards, and is a payback or a sell out to PhRMA for letting the pharmaceutical industry write into these agreements wording that extends their patents and extends the time before generic medicines are available. Now, it may be that Bahrain is somewhat richer than other nations and can wait longer, but it is a bad policy. You are going to hear today about Bahrain's labor rights. That is great. But it does not hold them responsible for maintaining those improvements. It is sort of enforce your own laws, and Bahrain could change those laws tomorrow. The same hollow standards apply to environmental protections.…”