Cord Byrd: “I wish to join my Republican colleagues, Senator DeWine, Senator Specter, and Senator Craig, all of whom have already…”

“I wish to join my Republican colleagues, Senator DeWine, Senator Specter, and Senator Craig, all of whom have already spoken so eloquently in support of a motion introduced by Senator DeWine yesterday to instruct conferees on the budget bill to strike an ill- conceived House provision that would repeal the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act, also known as CDSOA. To repeal or abandon this trade law would be a travesty. The Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act was enacted to save American manufacturing and our agricultural producers from wave after wave of unfairly dumped foreign imports. CDSOA remains one of the most successful trade programs ever enacted. It maintains America's corporate competitiveness; it enables small and medium-sized businesses--and family-owned businesses--to invest in their futures. It keeps American workers employed, so they can receive health and pension benefits. This law is about American jobs. As Senator DeWine said yesterday, this law is not about rewarding special interests: It is about keeping American jobs. Five years ago, a bipartisan majority of the Senate approved our amendment to give U.S. companies injured by unfair trade the ability to invest in their factories and workers with funds collected by the Customs Service from unfairly traded imports.…”