Marcy Kaptur: “I thank the esteemed Ranking Member from New York (Mr. Rangel) for granting me this time. I want to begin by saying, Mr.…”

“I thank the esteemed Ranking Member from New York (Mr. Rangel) for granting me this time. I want to begin by saying, Mr. Speaker, that DR-CAFTA will give us more of the great sucking sound that we said NAFTA would accelerate, and, indeed, it did; 1 million more lost U.S. jobs, worsening squalor in Mexico, huge trade deficits with Mexico and Canada, as we predicted would happen. I urge those who have been offered a deal tonight for your vote not to trade your conscience for a deal. If you think about this, American icon companies leaving our country are--just a month ago, Brunswick Bowling Balls left Muskegon, Michigan, adding to this trade deficit, taking 115 more jobs; and then last week from Nashville, Louisville Ladder Group, 110 more lost jobs; and then this week a Kansas radiator company leaving announced it was leaving for Mexico. These jobs go to places where working conditions are abominable, as the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) has so well documented tonight. Sweatshops rule the day. CAFTA will fuel more such trade deficits as with Mexico, more illegal immigration as people, desperate, try to find some type of refuge north. We know illegal immigration has doubled just since NAFTA passed. We know CAFTA will increase drug trafficking, sexual harassment of women in the workplace. Environmental conditions will worsen.…”