On the recordOctober 29, 1999
As we consider the African Growth and Opportunity Act, I rise to speak about the status of the United States textile and apparel industry. During my time in the Senate, there has been an ever increasing effort to give away our textile and apparel industry. This is done in the name of free trade, under the guise of promoting market-based economies and democratic governments in developing countries. In spite of all this, the textile and apparel industry still ranks second among United States manufacturing industries. Notwithstanding downsizing, automation, and unfair import competition, this industry provides jobs for over one million two hundred thousand American workers, and contributes nearly sixty billion dollars per year to the Nation's Gross Domestic product. Now the Senate is considering legislation, which, in my view, will further impair the textile and apparel industry.
Source
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