Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: “as all of us know, CAFTA was finished last year and will soon be taken up by the Congress. While trade is a critical…”

“as all of us know, CAFTA was finished last year and will soon be taken up by the Congress. While trade is a critical component of CAFTA, we must recognize that CAFTA is more than just about trade. We have a national security imperative in passing CAFTA. It is an important component of U.S. efforts to address the conditions that breed instability, terrorism, and international criminal activity. We must help ensure that the countries in Central America have the ability to fight the threats to their democratic institutions. Helping their economic growth is a critical factor to achieving success. CAFTA is the vehicle for achieving such important U.S. foreign policy and security objectives. CAFTA's defeat would harm not only trade, but antiterrorism and antinarcotic efforts as well. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of CAFTA. A vote for CAFTA is a vote for U.S. national security. ____________________”