Political Quotes

“for the past eight years, the responsibility to extend annual trade status to the People's Republic of China, PRC, has been shouldered entirely by the U.S. House of Representatives. Even though the United States Senate has eluded the duty of debating and deciding upon this significant issue, not one year has gone by when the subject matter hasn't weighed heavily on my mind. If one year ago you had questioned any number of business or trade entities in Washington state my position on the prospect of extending Permanent Normal Trade Relations, PNTR, to China, I can almost guarantee you would have received a non-committal response. For years I have questioned China's commitment to free trade with the United States, and have been critical of the notion that the U.S. continue a relationship of ``engagement'' with the PRC. Couple these concerns with allegations of espionage, nuclear non-proliferation, questionable campaign contributions and influence, human rights abuses, persecution of religious freedom, and the treatment of the one true Chinese democracy, Taiwan, and one might challenge the notion that China receive such significant trading status from the United States. Mr. President, these issues have played a significant role in my criticism of our relationship with China, and therefore maintained an elevated status as I reviewed the prospect of voting on PNTR.”