The new Morocco labor law is a significant improvement over existing labor laws and regulations. The law raises the minimum employment age from 12 to 15 to combat child labor, reduces the work week from 48 to 44 hours with overtime rates…

Mr. Speaker, I am quite pleased that the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco have reached agreement on a bilateral free trade agreement. Morocco has long been a key ally in the Middle East. As many have noted, Morocco was the first…

Australia is the eleventh largest market for Ohio goods exports, with total exports valued at around $389 million in 2003. Ohio primarily exports high-valued products to Australia, such as aircraft engines and parts, other aircraft parts…

Oregon is a trader with Australia right now, and Australia is the 10th largest market for Oregon goods that are exported with total exports valued at over $257 million in 2003. Oregon's high-volume exports to Australia include chassis…

when my colleagues and I vote on the U.S.- Australia Free Trade Agreement later today, I hope we do so understanding that trade with Australia currently supports over 235,000 jobs here in the United States, including over 4,400 in my home…

Mr. Speaker, Australia is the 15th largest market for New Jersey goods exports, with total exports valued at nearly $307 million in 2003. New Jersey primarily exports high-valued products to Australia such as pharmaceuticals, printed…

Mr. Speaker, the Australia FTA does not prevent Congress from passing legislation on drug reimportation. Under the U.S. Constitution, no trade agreement could do this. Any law passed by Congress will always trump any FTA. There is nothing…

Mr. Speaker, the administration strongly supports H.R. 4759, which will approve and implement the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement as signed by the United States and Australia on May 18 of this year. The U.S.-Australia FTA advances U.S…

on May 20, 2004, I introduced legislation along with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) authorizing…

I have noted with interest that some prominent Democrats have decided that part of their election strategy is apparently to scare the American people into believing that the economy is weak. I hate to rain on their parade, but here are…

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer my strong support for H.R. 4520, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. This important legislation will end EU sanctions against our exporters, which is harming U.S. workers, and will deliver much-needed…

Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to and express my sympathy on the passing of one of Illinois' greatest sons, Ronald Reagan. I was inspired by Ronald Reagan some 40 years ago when he, the Great Communicator, first outlined his…

In 2001 we passed the first Bush tax cut, which I am proud to say created the new 10 percent tax bracket. Before this legislation was passed, the lowest tax rate was 15 percent; and without immediate legislative action, 73 million…

Health care providers in my district need relief. Doctors, nurses, and hospitals all are struggling to shoulder the burden of the escalating cost of medical malpractice insurance. Many regions of the country have been hit especially hard…

Mr. Speaker, in 1969 Congress enacted the individual alternative minimum tax, AMT. The purpose of this tax was to require that all taxpayers pay some tax on their income. We can have a debate about the merits, or lack thereof, of the AMT…

The motion before us instructs conferees to reject division B of the House-passed Medicare bill. Division B in H.R. 1 allows for the creation of tax-favored health care savings accounts. The basic idea behind these accounts is to let…

charitable organizations are vital to the health and well-being of American citizens. Charity benefits both the giver and the receiver in like proportions. The act of giving elevates the heart of the giver; the act of receiving elevates…

from spiritual counseling to rape crisis centers, charitable organizations are vital to the health and well- being of American citizens. Charity benefits both the giver and receiver in like proportions. The act of giving elevates the heart…

I stand in support of a free trade partnership with both Chile and Singapore. We should all support the model that Chile provides for economic, social, and democratic development. Chile more than doubled its GDP during the 1990s. It was…

as a cosponsor of H.R. 760, I rise in strong support of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. By passing this legislation we will once again take a step towards banning the truly horrifying practice whereby an innocent life is taken…

I would like to commend a valuable member of my staff, a treasure who has served the Committee on Ways and Means for over 20 years. Meredith Broadbent, who serves as senior professional staff member to our Subcommittee on Trade, is a noted…

I rise to support H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act, which is a compendium of trade provisions drawn largely from legislation introduced by individual Members. This bill has more than 350 such provisions and…

on February 1, 2003, we lost seven of mankind's finest. The crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia made the ultimate sacrifice, not in a feat of arms, but in the noble quest to expand human knowledge. My deepest thoughts and prayers go to the…

last Saturday we lost seven of mankind's finest. The crew of the space shuttle Columbia made the ultimate sacrifice, not in a feat of arms, but in the noble quest to expand human knowledge. My deepest thoughts and prayers go to the…

as a cosponsor of H.R. 4965, I rise in strong support of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002. By passing this legislation we will once again take a step towards banning the truly horrifying practice whereby an innocent life is taken…