Sam Farr: “I want to ask this body what is the rush? There is no need to adopt. There is no deadlines on this agreement. Three of…”

“I want to ask this body what is the rush? There is no need to adopt. There is no deadlines on this agreement. Three of the six countries have not even ratified it yet. I think when we are trying to do a trade agreement, we have got to do the best that America can do. The richest country in the world is about to enter into a trade agreement with the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere so that we can open up nontariff issues. They send us goods without tariffs. Yes, we do not grow bananas in the United States or guanabana or platano, but we want to send them our goods so that people who are earning $2 a day can buy Two Buck Chuck. Come on. America, can do better. You cannot have fair trade until you have basic aid. You cannot have a middle class without having schools and water and sewers. There is nothing in here; even the Millennium Fund that the President introduced, a good program, underfunded it to these countries. You have got to build up countries so that they have a faith in themselves before they have the opportunity for a middle class. We can do better, America. Congress, put this over. Vote against it.”