Janice Schakowsky: “I rise in profound regret, disappointment and anger as we consider the conference report before us tonight. The House…”

“I rise in profound regret, disappointment and anger as we consider the conference report before us tonight. The House leadership is attempting to ram through this bill, in the dead of night, without giving the American public the ability to look at it and express their views before we vote. It is clear why. The United States should be using its unprecedented economic power and global leadership position to fight for trade policies that respect labor and human rights, expand economic opportunities for workers, and improve the environment, both at home and abroad. We should use our power not just to promote corporate profits but to promote higher standards of living for working families. We should help stop the global race to the bottom in which some multinational companies move operations from country to country as they search for the one that lets them pay the lowest wages, commit the worst labor abuses, use child labor, and damage the environment without penalty. We should use the power of our markets to push for democratic reforms, equal rights for women, and stronger human rights. And, we should ensure that property rights and profits do not come first, ahead of the ability of governments to protect the very lives of their people. We had an opportunity in this bill to accomplish those objectives. Tragically, the House Republican leadership rejected that opportunity.”