Bill Pascrell: “Mr. Chairman, do we want to build bigger jails, or do we want to build a better economy? No one is saying on this floor…”

“Mr. Chairman, do we want to build bigger jails, or do we want to build a better economy? No one is saying on this floor that we do not need to build more Federal prisons. No one is saying that. But this administration is asking us to listen to them on the issue of trade. The gentleman from Virginia has spoken on this floor many times about displaced workers, about human rights; and I have followed the gentleman's point and been in support. If one listens to those who want to trade and open up the floodgates, because nothing is free, this trade is a cure that will increase employment, which will increase productivity and end human rights abuses. It will promote democracy, we hear, democracy, and do just about everything one wants. These are all unproved theories. It seems to me we could take some money from that large pool of building prisons. There is no debate about the need, Mr. Chairman, but the question is, what about our own workers?”