Byron Dorgan: “this issue of imported products from abroad in an increasingly globalized world is a very significant and serious issue.…”

“this issue of imported products from abroad in an increasingly globalized world is a very significant and serious issue. I am not one who suggests we can retreat from the global economy. Clearly, the global economy exists. I would say the rules for the global economy have not nearly kept pace with the galloping movement of this global economy and, as a result of it, we have some very serious trade issues, we have imbalances in trade, we have the largest trade deficit in human history, we have the loss of American jobs being shipped overseas, and then we have, in addition to all that, we have products that are now made overseas, shipped into this country, that we have discovered are dangerous products. My colleague from Arkansas, Senator Pryor, under his leadership, and with others, have brought a bill to the floor of the Senate. I am on the Senate Commerce Committee, and I was pleased to work with them and play a very small role in helping create this legislation, but I wish to commend my colleague and others for bringing a bill to the floor that gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission some additional authority. Now, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is headed by somebody who didn't want the authority; didn't seem to think it was necessary, unfortunately. We need someone at the Consumer Product Safety Commission who is very interested, very alert, and very engaged on these issues. Because the fact is, these can be life-or-death issues.”