House Proceeding 06-11-09 on Jun 11th, 2009 :: 0:49:45 to 0:53:20
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0:49:41 to 0:50:01( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: could not be any higher. we need all the accountability we can get, and that's why i support this bill. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california time. the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentlelady from florida. ms. ros-lehtinen: thank you,

0:49:45 to 0:53:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Dave Camp

0:50:02 to 0:50:22( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: mr. speaker. i'm so proud to yield three minutes to the gentleman from michigan, mr. camp, the ranking member on the committee on ways and means. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan is recognized for three minutes. mr. camp: thank you. i thank the gentlewoman for yielding. i strongly oppose h.r. 1886. in particular, language inserted at the rules committee to create a new but poorly

0:50:23 to 0:50:43( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: designed a trade preference program for afghanistan and pakistan. while i would suort a well-designed system to create jobs and spur economic development, this legislation is deeply flawed. first, it brings virtually no economic benefit, because the product mix is stingy. an economic fig leaf that should fool no one. my second objection is even

0:50:44 to 0:51:05( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: more fundamental. while the bill is light on commercial benefits, it is heavy on intrusive, impractical labor requirements that could exceed u.s. law. now, i very much support improving labor conditions, but these new unnecessarily onerous labor criteria would impede investment and won't improve labor conditions.

0:51:06 to 0:51:26( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: specifically, this legislation requires the secretary of labor to designate any entity to conduct firm level inspections in afghanistan and pakistan to ensure compliance with, quote, core labor standards. even an n.g.o. hostile to trade,his vague langge subjects firms to arbitrary

0:51:27 to 0:51:47( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: standards that could exceed u.s. law. i repeat, that could exceed u.s. law. given the dire security situation there, having inspectors go from door to door, even cottage to cottage to enforce such standards strains credibility. moreover, these -- this standard exceeds the labor

0:51:48 to 0:52:08( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: provisions in other preference programs. and even our trade agreements negotiated under the bipartisan may 10 standard for f.t.a.'s, both lotted by the speaker and chairman rangel. it could be viewed as a precedent to justify the inclusion of similar language, not only a new trade agreements but perhaps in efforts to revise existing ones whi

0:52:09 to 0:52:29( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: would, of course, apply to us as well leaving the united states vulnerable to challenges that our labor laws don't meet this standard. i'm also concerned about the pay for. for every dollar of duty relief that reconstruction opportunity zone exports from these countries receive, other pakistani and afghan exports

0:52:30 to 0:52:51( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: have to pay at least that amount in increased fees making these countries potentially worse off than they are right now. lastly, i'm disappointed that this is my first opportunity to explain my concerns. this bill was not even considered by the ways and means committee which, again, it's not about the committee.

0:52:52 to 0:53:12( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: but, again, this denies the american people their voice. this is not the return to regular order we were promised by the speaker, and i fear this is not the last time this month i'll be on the floor raising that concern. the provision also subverts the prerogatives out of the house by turning an aid bill into a revenue measure. right for mischief when it gets

0:53:13 to 0:53:20( Edit History Discussion )

Dave Camp: to the other side of the capitol. because of all of this, i strongly oppose the legislation in its current form. i urge my colleagues to vote