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“OPPOSITION TO CAFTA” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H3747 on May 23, 2005.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
OPPOSITION TO CAFTA
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight, joining with many of my friends on the Democratic side, because I am opposed to CAFTA; and I would like to take just a few minutes to explain why I am opposed to CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement; and I like to quote from a gentleman I have great respect for, particularly when it comes to protecting American jobs, Pat Buchanan.
{time} 1930
The title of his article is called ``CAFTA: Last Nail In The Coffin?'' And I will read a few paragraphs from the article. He says,
``As I write, the Department of Commerce has just released trade deficit numbers for February of 2005. Again, the monthly trade deficit set a record of $61 billion. In January-February 2005, the annual U.S. trade deficit was running $100 billion above the all-time record of
$617 billion in 2004.''
Let me go read a little bit more from his article. ``Between 1993 and 2004, the United States trade deficit with Beijing, China, grew 700 percent to $162 billion. Since NAFTA which passed a few years ago, the U.S. trade surplus with Mexico has vanished and the annual trade deficit is now running above $50 billion that we owe Mexico. One-and-a-
half million illegal aliens are caught each year crossing our borders and 500,000 make it in to take up residence and enjoy all the social programs generous but over-taxed Americans cannot afford to pay.
``The highest per capita income in Central America is $9,000 a year in Costa Rica, which is less than the U.S. minimum wage, but CAFTA will enable agribusiness and transnational companies to set up shop in Central America to dump into the United States and drive our last family farmers out of business and kill our last manufacturing jobs in textiles and apparel.''
Mr. Speaker, I also want to read just a paragraph from a letter I received recently that was not signed. It is a full page and a half. I will read one paragraph. I intend to come to the floor day after day after day to talk about this issue.
He says, ``Dear Congressman Jones: It is my understanding that you share my deep concern that our country is losing its industrial base. We are losing the vital jobs that are so important to support our economy and ultimately preserve the excellent standard of living that prior generations passed on to us. My view is that leaders in government and business are doing an inadequate job of protecting America's industrial base.''
There is no question about that, Mr. Speaker. The gentleman that wrote this letter knows because he is a subcontractor.
Mr. Speaker, I want to show in my great State of North Carolina, which I am very proud to be one of 13 representatives, that since NAFTA we have lost over 200,000 manufacturing jobs. The United States itself, since NAFTA, has lost 2.5 million manufacturing jobs.
Mr. Speaker, this first chart shows you Pillowtex, which happens to be in the district of my dear friend, the gentleman from North Carolina's (Mr. Hayes), in July 31 of 2003. It says, ``Pillowtex Goes Bust, Erasing 6,450 Jobs.'' The subtitle says, ``5 North Carolina plants closing in largest single job loss in State's history.''
Mr. Speaker, we need to get serious about what is happening to the manufacturing jobs in America, and I am very disappointed that this administration does not seem to get it.
I will also say that 2 weeks ago in my home county of Wilson County, which I share with the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield), it says, ``VF Jeanswear Closes Plant, Last 445 Jobs Gone By Next Summer.'' It further states in the article that operations performed in Wilson, which include fabric cutting and finishing garments, will be moved to Central America.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that we in a bipartisan way can defeat CAFTA, and I will do everything I can to help my friends, Republican and Democrat, to defeat CAFTA because it is about time that we care about the American workers.
Mr. Speaker, I ask God to please bless our men and women in uniform and their families.
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