María Elvira Salazar: “I came to Congress to defend the values of rural Colorado; our farming lifestyle, our ranching communities, our jobs.…”

“I came to Congress to defend the values of rural Colorado; our farming lifestyle, our ranching communities, our jobs. DR-CAFTA, the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement goes against those values, posing a threat to the very backbone of our economy and our lifestyle. Trade has always been a way for cultures to exchange not only goods, but also ideas and good will. I support trade with our neighbors; it is what we should be doing to help promote democracy and economic prosperity. But just because we have a trade agreement before us does not mean it is the right agreement. DR-CAFTA is an attempt to liberalize trade between the United States and six Latin American countries. The Administration negotiated with other foreign leaders in 2004 and today the House of Representatives will vote whether to approve the agreement. Due to Fast Track Authority, however, Congress will not have an opportunity to amend the agreement--it will merely have an up-or-down vote regardless of any concerns that may be voiced. DR-CAFTA has divided many agricultural groups among the states as well as other industries, business groups and human rights organizations. Over the last several months, I have met with a variety of groups from Colorado and around the nation about DR-CAFTA and I am sad to report there is no consensus about how this agreement will affect our nation's economy.…”