Thomas Daschle: “The fact remains, there is great uncertainty in these countries. They don't know how the Congress of the United States…”

“The fact remains, there is great uncertainty in these countries. They don't know how the Congress of the United States works. They don't know that May 16 isn't a drop dead date. It does not remove the compelling aspect of us reauthorizing ATPA as quickly as possible. I hope the majority leader will consider, if there are further problems--and I hope not--that we would split that bill out and pass it, which would be overwhelming, 98 or 99 votes. The President of Peru has been up here. There is enormous uncertainty in already unstable economic situations in those countries. I still don't think it is right for us to unnecessarily tie ATPA to the other legislation.”