James Traficant: “I want to start out by commending the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Chairman Shuster, and the ranking member, the…”

“I want to start out by commending the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Chairman Shuster, and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Oberstar, and the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Coble, the subcommittee chairman, who worked hard. He is a friend of mine. I was the ranking member at the time this bill was approved, and I remember much the things now being rehashed except to say that there was always one little asterisk in this whole process, and that was labor's concern over the secret opportunities of these contracts and certain antitrust considerations right from the beginning. We went along, and there was supposedly a mild-mannered agreement, gentleman's agreement, but there was never total confirmation of support from those people who were concerned. The Oberstar amendment and the original bill are not far apart. The Federal Maritime Commission has done a great job; it will be eliminated, as will all of the other salient points that are brought up in the legislation before us. Where the bill currently stands and the Oberstar amendment currently fits deals with the issue of repealing the requirement that the essential terms of contracts between ocean carriers and shippers be disclosed to the public.”