Gerald Kleczka: “I rise today to strongly object not only to the legislation before us, but to the tactics being used to push this bill…”

“I rise today to strongly object not only to the legislation before us, but to the tactics being used to push this bill through the House. On October 8, the Ways and Means Committee, on which I serve, passed by voice vote this bill to extend North America Free Trade Agreement benefits to Caribbean and Latin American nations. I requested a recorded vote in committee, but was denied this request. Now, the leadership of the House is trying to slide this measure by the full House in a similar manner by putting the bill on the Suspension Calendar. It is generally known that the Suspension Calendar is reserved for noncontroversial legislation, and that bills considered under suspension of the rules pass by voice vote. H.R. 2644 is highly controversial and ought to have full, open debate afforded to other bills of this magnitude. CBI parity has been rejected over and over by Congress because it is an expansion of the failing NAFTA. But, this year the debate on CBI parity is overshadowed by the larger discussion of fast track authority. We must not let this happen. NAFTA has hurt, not helped, the American worker. Passage of CBI parity will further jeopardize jobs and exports by opening the door to textiles and apparel made with cheap labor and in substandard working conditions. Plus, the taxpayer is hit with a double blow in lost revenues.”