Porter Goss: “I rise in strong support of what the gentleman from Florida is trying to do primarily because of the casualties. We are…”

“I rise in strong support of what the gentleman from Florida is trying to do primarily because of the casualties. We are suffering unnecessary casualties. There are things we can do to repair that damage, and the gentleman from Florida has the right answer. Mr. Speaker, Florida winter fruit and vegetable growers are being drowned in a flood of cheap Mexican produce. While current U.S. laws allow other industries in this position to seek relief under a GATT and NAFTA legal escape clause, this option is not really open to our growers because of the seasonal nature of their industry. In January, the Florida delegation made a bipartisan push to attach language to the continuing resolution to correct this technical, definitional problem in section 202 of the 1974 Trade Act. While these efforts hit a snag in the House, Florida's Senators were able to join forces to pass a stand-alone measure in the Senate. Today, S. 1463 is being blue-slipped on procedural grounds because it is the prerogative of the House to originate revenue measures.”