Cord Byrd: “The President this week submitted to the Congress the ``Export Expansion and Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act of 1997''…”

“The President this week submitted to the Congress the ``Export Expansion and Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act of 1997'', designed to renew so-called ``fast track'' procedures for trade agreements. There are many issues associated with this proposal, evidenced by the reports that the White House has essentially established a ``war room'' to marshall the votes in the Congress to support its proposal. We all know the United States needs to be competitive in foreign markets, and we all know the administration needs to strike the best deals it can with foreign nations on behalf of American business and consumers. There is no dispute over these goals. My concern today is over the procedure which the administration wishes to incorporate in considering this proposal which is driven by the insistence by the Clinton Administration that it can only be effective in promoting U.S. trade and negotiating such agreements if the legislative vehicle we consider is subject to one up-and-down vote, after a period of limited debate. The administration has elevated its desire to eliminate the opportunity for the Congress to amend such enacting legislation to the stature or degree of a religious mantra.”