Political Quotes

“for those who have been following the debate over fast track, I would just like to review a few facts. First of all, fast track is legislation which provides for expedited congressional consideration. It is called fast track because it is a way to force through Congress an up-or-down vote on a major trade package. Those who are interested in the history of this should remember that fast-track authority was first granted by the Congress in 1974. It gave the President the ability to move along trade agreements. In 1994, fast track expired, after the approval of NAFTA and the Uruguay round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, also known as GATT. What is happening now is that the President is asking for renewed fast-track authority and wants to expand NAFTA and the free trade zone to Chile and the other South American countries, and he wants trade agreements with even more countries as well, using the fast-track legislation. We must keep in mind that fast track does not provide for any amendments, so that this Congress has no ability to change the terms of the fast-track agreement and, therefore, to have an impact on American trade policy.”