Xavier Becerra: “I would support Fast Track legislation that meaningfully addresses the areas of labor and the environment, and provides…”

“I would support Fast Track legislation that meaningfully addresses the areas of labor and the environment, and provides an effective mechanism for congressional participation. This bill does not. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 3005. Mr. Speaker, article 1 of the Constitution empowers this body, Congress, to regulate commerce with foreign nations. Over the past 250 years of our Nation's existence, for only 20 of those years, from 1974 to 1994, has this body granted the President authority for fast tracking any trade agreement. In those 20 years, five agreements were signed. In contrast, during the 8 years of the Clinton administration, 300 agreements were signed with countries from Belarus to Japan to Uzbekistan. We can do this without Fast Track. We should have Fast Track, but it should be a Fast Track that gives us a clear road map of where this authority will take us. We owe it to the American people not to abandon the American worker or consumer. Until we have Fast Track legislation that guarantees where we will protect our workers and consumers, we should not support Fast Track legislation. Vote ``no'' on H.R. 3005.”