Byron Dorgan: “let me briefly rise in opposition to the sense-of-the-Senate amendment that has been offered. While I think there is…”

“let me briefly rise in opposition to the sense-of-the-Senate amendment that has been offered. While I think there is much in that amendment to commend--and I support some parts of it--the first provision in that amendment is to suggest that Congress should bring up and pass fast-track trade authority. I could not disagree more with that recommendation. I cannot support a sense-of-the-Senate resolution that includes it. I want to just demonstrate for my colleagues with some numbers where we have been with fast-track trade authority. I know some people don't want to talk about the details; they want to talk about the theory. The theory is that if you have expanded trade around the world, that is good for everybody. I am all for expanded trade. Put me down as a ``yes'' checkmark on the line for expanded trade. Yes, this country ought to be a leader in expanding trade. But this country also ought to be a leader in saying that we demand and insist on fair trade agreements with our trading partners.”