Fast-Tracking the Trans-Pacific Partnership

Floor Speech

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Mr. TONKO. Tonight we are here to discuss, as I indicated, Trade
Promotion Authority, most commonly known as fast track. Free trade
agreements that would be accompanied by a fast-track process are a way
to bring about devastating outcomes, if not done correctly, to the
American economy and, most importantly, to the American worker.

Of late, most notably, the free trade agreement of which there is
much concern expressed is the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the TPP,
which, by the way, would speak to a great number of nations which
encompass about 40 percent of the international GDP. So it is no small
compact here of which we speak.

Fast track, as a concept, would constrain Congress' ability to
conduct oversight, restrain oversight that Congress should provide so
as to be the voice of the people who elect them, to place their given
concerns in the discussions here in the House.

It would delegate Congress' constitutional authority over trade
policy in a way that would provide for no solid debate, no sharply
restricting debate, and it would prohibit amendments. Basically,
Congress would be limited to a simple up-or-down vote--thumbs up,
thumbs down--on what could be a devastating outcome for the American
economy and, most importantly, the American worker.

These so-called free trade agreements have far-reaching impacts on
American life. They may address dynamics like food safety or affordable
medicine or financial regulations. So we cannot be reckless in our
attempt, and we must make certain that we move forward deliberately to
make certain that it is a good outcome for trade.

We are not against trade. Free trade, as it has been described in the
past and agreed to in the past, has hurt the economy, but we want fair
trade.

In exchange for fast-tracking bills, Congress is supposed to set
these negotiating objectives. But let's face it: sadly, these
objectives are nonbinding, so they could be rendered meaningless. And
in the case of the TPP, which is nearly completed, setting them at this
point is somewhat late in the process.

We know also that the TPP is going to model itself after NAFTA, the
North American Free Trade Agreement that dealt with Canada and Mexico,
and also the Korean agreement. And the bottom line is, those deals have
not been good for the American middle class, for working families.

Certainly we would be giving up a golden opportunity to exercise our
responsibilities here in Congress to make certain it is the best
outcome for America.

Promises of new jobs here in the U.S. are one of those promises for
which we take great concern.

Decreased trade deficits--it can be said that trade deficits have
provided the greatest dent in the American economy. There are huge
deficits that have staggered the efforts to grow American jobs and
improve labor and environmental standards. These are promises that have
failed: jobs to be produced, environmental standards and labor
standards never really come to be. Even if they are written on paper
with the enforcement requirements, they have not reached their
potential. And certainly the job count is not what it should be.

As we lost manufacturing jobs, millions of manufacturing jobs, one in
every four manufacturing jobs, it was a devastating outcome. Three of
every five American workers who lost those manufacturing jobs ended up
with pay cuts, and one of three of those in the three-out-of-five
category ended up with more than 20 percent of a paycheck reduction.

This is not what we want in the order of progressive policies that
will speak to a stronger economy. So I have grave concern for the fast-
track process.

Those joining us tonight and those like the gentlewoman from New
York, Representative Slaughter, who will share her thoughts in writing,
which will be incorporated in the annals of these proceedings, for this
Special Order, these are Members who are very concerned.

And chief amongst them, the one who has led us in this effort to draw
public awareness and political attention to this issue, is none other
than Representative Rosa DeLauro, our colleague from Connecticut, who
has done a solid job in bringing to everyone's awareness, attention, that the fast-track process is the first step in a process that could be devastating, as we authorize this Trans-Pacific Partnership, with the potential for job loss that we can ill afford, with the potential for abuse of children in the labor force, and beckoning us to bring about a situation that finds Vietnamese workers, for instance, working for 50 to 55 cents, 56 cents, perhaps, an hour. It is dumbing down, it is weakening the workforce across the world as
we lose these American jobs.

So Representative DeLauro, it is great to have you on the floor. It
is great to have you join us in this Special Order. Please share with
us your passion, your concern for what could happen here to the
American worker.

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Mr. TONKO. Well, Representative DeLauro, let me just state that the
people of Connecticut are so fortunate to have you bring your voice to
this Chamber to speak so effectively and so nobly for the workers of
this country. People of this country beyond Connecticut prosper from
your advocacy and your passion. We respect that. All people who are
tuned into this discussion, those who have heard about it in other
dialogue, need to call their Representatives: Where are you on fast
track?

Ms. DeLAURO. Bingo.

Mr. TONKO. A great number of us Democrats in this House have come
together saying we are for growing paychecks and we want to strengthen
that paycheck. We have stood for increasing the minimum wage, but we
talk about the median wage. Let's strengthen that. Let's make certain
there is an opportunity to say: Here is how it could be better; here is
what you are skipping. You are walking past the currency manipulation
issue, which is one of the biggest concerns right now.

Ms. DeLAURO. Amen.

Mr. TONKO. As you pointed out, trade deficits have put the biggest
dent into the American economy, and if we continue this, those who
don't learn from history are bound to repeat it. And what we have here
is an opportunity to learn from history that there have been all these
negative outcomes. We have flattened if not gone south with the middle
class income all because we have sent out of our country's borders
these sound manufacturing jobs.

You talked about all these impacts, and I know where your heart is on
social and economic justice. What are we doing to people with the four
TPP negotiating partners in Vietnam, Malaysia, Mexico, and Peru? We are
using forced labor or child labor in violation of international
standards as reported by the United States Department of Labor in their
report of List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. We
have situations where there are not unions allowed in Vietnam, a
communist country. If it is allowed, they can't speak outside of these
given standards. If they do, they are persecuted or jailed.

Ms. DeLAURO. Or killed.

Mr. TONKO. Or killed. We have got documentation of how many union
activists have been murdered and how many of those issues have been
resolved, how many of those reviews by the judicial process or whatever
system in their country would prosecute. None of these--very few have
been resolved.

So it is not just the economic consequences. It is the social
injustice that we can allow with these contracts.

So I thank you. I know we have been joined by Ms. Kaptur.

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Mr. TONKO. Absolutely. You use that technical term, I have used it,
``currency manipulation,'' over and over. Let's just throw an example
out there. It is a $6,000 edge for a competing automobile imported into
this Nation against what is produced by our home-driven auto industry.

Well, that is going to upset the whole economy. It is going to impact
consumers.

So currency manipulation is given a $6,000 edge. It is like giving
them a check saying: Put more conditions or more opportunities into the
consumer's pocket to buy more features on a car.

Of course, $6,000 is going to speak to their senses, so we need
currency manipulation to provide for fair trade. As you indicated, we
are all for trade but not this manipulation that has hurt the American
working families.

We have Representative Kaptur here, and I believe we have about 5
minutes remaining.

Representative Kaptur, I yield to you to share your thoughts because
this is so important an issue.

Again, I thank both of my colleagues for joining us here this evening
and Representative Slaughter for sending in written comment that can be
incorporated. Thank you, Representative DeLauro.

Representative Kaptur, please share with us your thoughts.

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Mr. TONKO. You are fine, Representative Kaptur. I thank you for
contributing, as you always do in such meaningful measure.

I think you agree with me--I am certain you do--that Congress and the
American workers deserve a meaningful role in these debates to make
sure that our trade policy reflects our values as a country, as a
people; and those include middle class prosperity, workers' rights,
consumer safety, and environmental sustainability.

When we have those rights guaranteed, when we have those ideals
protected and advanced and enhanced, we are a great, great nation that
comes out of trade negotiations even more powerful.

We are a great nation; we need to stay great. We can't give away all
of these golden opportunities simply by trade agreements that are
unfair that provide an unlevel playing field for the American worker.

It is about those values that we are meeting tonight, speaking
tonight, advocating tonight, and encouraging that hope be brought to
each and every worker and working family out there across this great
Nation in a way that reflects a sound bit of dialogue on this House
floor.

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Mr. TONKO. Thank you so much, Representative Kaptur.

Let's move forward with socioeconomic environmental justice, where we
can grow this Nation and job opportunities and undo those trade
deficits.

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