Alcee Hastings: “Mr. Speaker, I rise at 1 a.m. this morning in opposition to this rule, born out of martial law, and in strong opposition…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise at 1 a.m. this morning in opposition to this rule, born out of martial law, and in strong opposition to this conference report. This is simply a bad deal for American workers. This is a very complex conference report that deserves serious consideration by this House, which, sadly, it will not get. It is not an emergency. It does not require that the House override its most basic procedures and principles of fairness. The conference report can just as easily be taken up in September, which would allow the Members of this House to have a genuine understanding of the changes made during conference negotiations. If Members are going to be asked to turn the clock back nearly 30 years on the role and jurisdiction of Congress in our trade laws, if Members are going to be asked to give up our constitutional responsibility to regulate foreign and domestic commerce, then the least we should provide to the Members of this House is the time to read both the bold and the fine print of this conference report and to have the opportunity to talk to the companies and the workers in our districts most likely affected.”