Maria Cantwell: “though we have much to do to make opening markets fairer to all those affected, CAFTA is good for Washingtonians…”

“though we have much to do to make opening markets fairer to all those affected, CAFTA is good for Washingtonians, especially our farmers, it is good for America, and in the long run it will be good for the people living in CAFTA countries too. I will vote for CAFTA and continue to work to maximize what Washingtonians get out of globalization, while also working to minimize the negative side effects that sometimes result from it. Aggressively balancing the impact of opening markets is the track we must all accept. America's economic future hangs in the balance. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Executive Office of the President, the United States Trade Representative, Washington, DC, June 28, 2005. Hon. Jeff Bingaman, U.S. Senate, Washington DC. Dear Jeff: As the Congress considers the Central America- Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), you have raised concerns about ongoing efforts to improve enforcement of labor laws and to monitor progress in this regard in the CAFTA-DR signatory countries. As you know, Congress appropriated $20 million in FY05 specifically for projects to improve labor and environmental law enforcement in these countries.…”