Jeff Bingaman: “with these additional commitments, I have concluded that I can support the implementation of this trade agreement. I…”

“with these additional commitments, I have concluded that I can support the implementation of this trade agreement. I will do so when the roll is called later today. I yield the floor. Exhibit 1 Executive Office of the President, the United States Trade Representative, Washington, DC, June 28, 2005. Hon. Jeff Bingaman, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Jeff, as the Congress considers the Central America- Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), you have raised concerns about ongoing efforts to improve enforcement of labor laws and to monitor progress in this regard in the CAFTA-DR signatory countries. As you know, Congress appropriated $20 million in FY05 specifically for projects to improve labor and environmental law enforcement in these countries. The recent House Appropriations Committee mark-up of the FY06 Foreign Operations appropriations bill increases this commitment for the next fiscal year, with $40 million earmarked for labor and environmental enforcement capacity- building in the CAFTA-DR signatory countries. The Administration is willing to support this level of funding in the FY06 Senate appropriations bill. Furthermore, because we are willing to make a longer-term commitment to improve labor and environmental law enforcement in the CAFTA-DR countries, the Administration is willing to propose and support this same level of labor/environment capacity-building assistance for the next three fiscal years, FY07 through FY09.…”