Cord Byrd: “in the dead of night, under cover of darkness, near the bewitching hour of midnight on July 25, 2002, House and Senate…”

“in the dead of night, under cover of darkness, near the bewitching hour of midnight on July 25, 2002, House and Senate conferees reached agreement on a new trade bill. The White House embraces this new trade bill, not because it contains trade adjustment assistance--no, no, no--but because it provides the President with fast-track negotiating authority. The administration likes to refer to it as trade promotion authority--that is an old Vaudeville trick--trade promotion authority. This is fast-track negotiating authority that the President wants, but he does not call it fast track. He wants to call it 'trade promotion authority.' That sounds good. That has a sweet ring to my ears--trade promotion. Who would not be for trade promotion? The President knows how to frame these terms in ways one may be lulled to sleep--trade promotion authority--but it provides the President with fast-track negotiating authority, fast track. As we all know, the real effect of fast track is not to promote trade--no, no, no--not to promote trade but to prevent amendments to trade agreements. That is why we have fast track. This Constitution, which I hold in my hand, gives to the Congress the power to regulate trade and commerce with foreign nations. This Constitution is my authority, not fast track. This is my authority. This bill we are talking about here and about to vote on and upon which cloture was invoked earlier today is a fast-track bill.”