Charles Rangel: “it is 1:10 in the morning, and I think that all Members of this House recognize that in order for our country to enjoy…”

“it is 1:10 in the morning, and I think that all Members of this House recognize that in order for our country to enjoy economic growth, that we have to engage in international trade. We also recognize that the power of commerce and trade remains in this House, but it does not make a lot of sense to believe that 535 lawmakers will be negotiating trade agreements. So therefore, the power should be given to the executive branch to actually negotiate these agreements, but it does not mean that the House of Representatives should give up its authority to protect the American people and American workers as we yield to the executive branch. Why? Because it is the executive branch that yields a part of our power to world trade organizations, to international organizations. All we are saying on our side is that there should be some standard for the leader of the Free World, the United States of America, to be able to say that as we engage in trade, with all of our power and prestige, that there is minimum standards that we expect other nations to follow with their workers, with their right to organize, with their ability to dream, like Americans dream, that their life can be improved. Do we say that it should reach our standards? No. What we are saying is that there should be standards involved.…”