Cliff Stearns: “Basically, what we are trying to do is give the U.S. Trade Representative more money so he can investigate, look at the…”

“Basically, what we are trying to do is give the U.S. Trade Representative more money so he can investigate, look at the U.S. laws, both local and State, that are impacted by the World Trade Organization when it makes decisions, and do they override actually in effect some of these laws at the local and State level. As my colleagues know, Mr. Chairman, President Clinton, since he has taken office they have negotiated more than 200 trade agreements, and of these 200 trade agreements only 2 of them have had fast track. This, certainly, deflates the administration's claim that our Nation is in dire need of fast track. So I think the important point here is that this amendment that the gentleman from Vermont [Mr. Sanders] is offering, and others including myself, will allow the U.S. Trade Representative to have additional resources to study the impact of the World Trade Organization on the laws, the sovereign laws at the State and the local level, and to get back to Congress to see what impact these trade negotiations are having.”