Tom Harkin: “I rise to, first of all, support enthusiastically the Trade and Development Act of 2000 known as the African Growth and…”

“I rise to, first of all, support enthusiastically the Trade and Development Act of 2000 known as the African Growth and Opportunity Act. I thank Chairman Roth, Senator Moynihan, and the staffs for their hard work to retain the amendment I offered on child labor. This is an important piece of legislation not only for the trade benefits it promises to African and Caribbean countries, but for the benefits it promises to another important and often neglected group, the world's children. This bill includes a provision I introduced last year in the form of an amendment when we first considered this trade measure. As many of you will recall, my amendment, cosponsored by Senators Helms and Wellstone, sought to ensure that beneficiaries of U.S. trade preferences fulfill their commitments to eliminate the use of abusive and exploitative child labor. My amendment passed the Senate by a resounding vote of 96-0. The provision contained in this conference report is very simple and straightforward. It builds on the international consensus that came out of the ILO conference in Geneva last June in which the delegates unanimously adopted the Convention to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor.”