Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3289, which provides supplemental appropriations to our national defense and the reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I would like to commend President Bush for his strong leadership during the war on terrorism. Under his leadership, our homeland has been free from terrorist acts since the attacks of September 11, 2001.

For the past 2 years we, as Americans, have come together in an effort to protect ourselves from all aspects of terrorism in both the United States and abroad. Patriotism has soared as Americans have supported the war on terrorism and our troops who are fighting it.

During these difficult times, we have managed to liberate millions of Afghanis and Iraqis while improving their way of life and allowing them to experience the benefit of democratic rule. We must not stop at this critical juncture.

We must push forward in our efforts in these countries and pass this necessary funding measure.

The $87 billion Supplemental Appropriations Act for 2004 provides the essential funding which is the step toward expanding democracy abroad and is an investment in America's safety. The $19.8 billion provided for reconstruction in both Iraq and Afghanistan will be used to rehabilitate critical infrastructure so their citizens will have safe drinking water, roads, bridges, adequate sanitation, electricity in their homes and an increase in public safety overall. The $64.7 billion provided for our national defense will give our troops the necessary equipment to continue the war on terrorism and protect our shores from anyone who seeks to do us harm.

This debate should focus on providing the necessary resources to complete this phase of the war on terrorism and providing adequate tools for our troops to complete their mission. Now, more than ever, we need to rally behind our troops, and providing adequate tools

for them to complete their mission is the best way to show our support. A vote in favor of this bill is a vote in support of our troops.

Finally, I would like to commend the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) and the members of the Committee on Appropriations for their hard work and dedication in the crafting of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, Taiwan will be celebrating its Republic Day this October 10. On behalf of my constituents, I wish to express my congratulations to the people of Taiwan on this happy occasion.

Since 1949 when members of the anticommunist Kuomintang Party established its government, Taiwan has grown and flourished. Today it is a thriving multiparty democracy with an equally robust free market economy.

In 1952 less than 60 percent of its people over the age of 15 could read and write. Today Taiwan has a literacy rate of 94 percent.

Politically, Taiwan has continued its democratization process and its people enjoy the fruits of living in a free and open society. Taiwan has 12 officially recognized religions, including Buddhism, Daoism (Taoism), Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic ``Tigers.''

This is because Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy that is continually being deregulated as formerly government-owned enterprises are being privatized.

Taiwan is a major trading partner of the United States. In 2002, total Taiwan-U.S. trade in goods amounted to over $50 billion. This past year my home state of Illinois exported more than $289 million of goods to Taiwan.

I hope that friendly relations between America and our ally Taiwan remain strong and continue to grow closer and wish the citizens of Taiwan well on their national holiday.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

We have had several motions to instruct conferees that this House has voted down, and this is more of the same. The motion before us instructs conferees to reject division B of the House-passed Medicare bill. Division B in H.R. 1 allows for the creation of tax-favored health care savings accounts. The basic idea behind these accounts is to let people put their own money away for their future health care needs. They are completely portable and can be used for any health care expense such as prescription drugs or doctor visits.

Let me explain to my colleagues why these accounts are so important for seniors and all other Americans. In January, most insured Americans will see an estimated 14 percent increase in their health insurance premiums. This is the fourth consecutive year of double digit increases. Currently, there are more than 43 million Americans without health insurance, an increase of 2.4 million in the last year.

Health care costs are spiraling out of control throughout the United States. Seniors have the most pressing problem with health care costs because they have no further income opportunities after they retire; but make no mistake about it, all Americans are struggling with increasing health care costs.

The future looks bleak. We have an aging population. The fastest growing segment in our country is people 80 and older. We need to start looking at ways to handle the chronic and long-term care costs of our aging population. When the baby boomers retire, long-term care costs will skyrocket, driving prices even higher.

One piece of legislation is not going to solve all these problems. There is not a simple answer, but there is a necessity to take multiple steps now with one of the most important steps being health savings accounts.

This House has passed bipartisan legislation that for the first time gives all Americans the incentive to plan for the future. It gives people more options and flexibility. If an employer does not offer health coverage, an individual has an affordable way to purchase health insurance on his own.

A few months ago, I talked to a constituent from my district who told me a story similar to the stories many Members have heard from their constituents. He recently quit his job to start his own company. He has a wife and two daughters, and he has been pretty successful at getting his company off the ground, but he cannot find health insurance for his family that is not exorbitantly expensive. He knows he needs it. He has got two children. He makes enough money to be classified as middle class, and he provides well for his family; but he simply cannot afford to be self-employed and make sure his children can go to the doctor. Having had eight children of my own, I understand his frustration. By all accounts he is successful except he cannot find health insurance. Health savings accounts would be a viable option for him and his family.

Opponents of health savings accounts will say that we are only helping wealthy people, that health savings accounts are a tax shelter for the rich. The very opposite is true. These types of accounts are giving people in the middle class and workers who do not have benefits the ability to buy health insurance.

Medical savings accounts, the precursor to health savings accounts, have been very successful. According to the last report from the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury, 73 percent of all medical savings account buyers were previously uninsured. So medical savings accounts are making health insurance affordable for the first time for many Americans and actually bringing them into the health insurance system.

According to the Coalition for Patient Care, medical savings account policy holders currently have at least $100 million in their medical savings accounts to use for health care now or in the future. Previously, that money used to go to insurance companies. With medical savings accounts, policy holders are benefiting from their wise consumption of medical care.

Health savings accounts and health savings security accounts are more flexible than medical savings accounts and, therefore, will be more attractive to people. If they are implemented, it is estimated that 40 million health savings accounts and health savings security accounts will be created by the end of the decade.

I simply cannot understand why my colleagues on the other side of the aisle persist in trying to pass a motion that will remove the ability of seniors to save for their out-of-pocket health costs that will keep 43 million Americans uninsured. I cannot understand a

motion that will limit health care options for Americans. I think some Members are under the assumption that if we strip health savings accounts from the bill that the money spent on health savings accounts will be redirected and used to provide enhanced prescription drug coverage.

I want to clarify what this motion does and does not do. The motion does not direct conferees to close the drug coverage gap. It does not direct conferees to spend more money on drug coverage. It does nothing more than eliminate health savings accounts.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have one general theme when they talk about health care policy: if we cannot give everyone everything, why pass a Medicare drug benefit. If we cannot help everyone, why help anyone. It is flawed thinking. We all want to help seniors pay for their prescription drugs. We want everyone to have access to affordable quality health care, it is just that we are going about it in different ways.

Our side of the aisle believes that seniors are smart enough to be able to choose the health care that is best for them. They should be able to choose what services they want and what doctor they want to go to. We think that people have the capability to plan for their health care needs down the road. The other side of the aisle thinks that Americans need to be taken care of, that is, what is good for one person is good enough for everyone. Some Members continue to categorize health savings accounts unfairly. They have been called a number of things. They have been called a tax-free grant, a tax shelter for the wealthy, and my favorite, a radical proposal.

The sad truth is that health savings accounts are a radical proposal. We are giving all Americans, including seniors, a tool to save for their future health care needs. We are letting people keep more of their own money in order to buy health insurance. Ironically, that is a radical idea for some Members, letting people keep the money they earn to buy the health coverage they want. It has been argued that Republicans are being fiscally irresponsible. Some have said that, if the health savings account provisions are stripped from the Medicare bill, that we could afford to cover more of the seniors' prescription drug costs. This is simply not true. Even if health savings accounts were taken out of the bill, $174 billion will not close the so-called coverage gap.

Let me remind Members that the Democrats offered an alternative prescription drug bill which closed the coverage gap, and that bill cost $1 trillion. The entirety of the cost of H.R. 1, including the provision creating health savings accounts, is within the budget limits that this House passed earlier this year; a $1 trillion prescription drug bill is not. Some Members today have spent a lot of time talking about how important it is to close the coverage gap in H.R. 1; yet this motion has nothing to do with closing the so-called doughnut hole. The motion does not instruct conferees to devote any additional money at all toward prescription drug coverage. This motion is not meant to supplement our prescription drug proposal; it is meant to kill legislation that this House has passed which will give millions of Americans access to affordable health care. I urge my colleagues to reject this motion.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2003.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns on Friday, October 10, 2003, it adjourn to meet at noon on Tuesday, October 14, 2003.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns on Tuesday, October 14, 2003, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2003.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday next.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the award-winning educational videotapes given free to our nation's high schools, community colleges, and others produced by the Committee for Citizen Awareness (CCA). In particular, I would like to focus on those Americans across the country who are working with the CCA to enable these civic videotapes to be seen free by their fellow citizens in their locale.

All Americans can agree on the need for a well-informed citizenry. The involvement of our people in our republic is the guarantee of our freedom. Surveys have shown that the information contained in these videotapes help our citizens understand and exercise their civic responsibility.

The secret to America's greatness lies in its citizens, as individuals and, when combined, in organizations. A good example of this is the local organizations cooperating with the CCA. Such support for their community's educational institutions and their citizens' civic understanding makes America a better country.

Those of us in Washington, D.C. who do all we can to make sure that our republic functions properly are particularly grateful to those who contribute from the private sector as is the case with the CCA.

John J. Bratsakis, Jr., President of Community Trust Credit

Union.

Richard M. Wardrop, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive

Officer of A K Steel Corporation.

Valdimir E. Ostoich, Co-Founder and Vice President of

Abaxis, Inc.

Gary Jester, President of Advancial Federal Credit Union.

Karen Lambert, Chief Executive of Advocate Good Shepherd

Hospital.

Marilyn Carp, President of AEGON.

Helen Jimenez Dichoso, President and CEO of Allied Health

Services.

Kenneth S. Leonard, President and CEO of America's Credit

Union, A Federal Credit Union.

Mr. Tippets, President and CEO of American Airlines Federal

Credit Union.

Douglas W. Kohrs, President and CEO of American Medical

Systems.

John R. Gibson, Chairman, President, and CEO of American

Pacific Corporation.

Dorinda M. Simpson, President and CEO of American Partners

Federal Credit Union.

Bernaldo Dancel, President and CEO of Amerix Corporation.

Brenda Berry, Dean of Student Services of Andover College.

Larry C. Glasscock, President and CEO and Gray Somers,

Vice-President and General Manager of Anthem Blue Cross &

Blue Shield.

Thomas F. Gordon, J.D., LL.M, President of Avila College.

Dan Smith, President and CEO of Bay Area Hospital.

Lois B. DeFleur, President of Binghamton University.

Ronald A. Battista, President of Blue Cross & Blue Shield

of Rhode Island.

Michael Cascone, Jr., Chairman, President, and CEO of Blue

Cross & Blue Shield of Florida.

David Joyner, Senior Vice President, Network Manager of

Blue Shield of California.

Craig M. Ames, President and COO of BryanLGH Medical

Center.

Dr. Steffen H. Rogers, President of Bucknell University.

Dr. Marilyn C. Beck, President of Calhoun Community

College.

David A. Woodle, Chairman and CEO of C-COR.

Gary Oppedahl, President and CEO of Cell Robotics

International, Inc.

Trudy Prince, President and CEO of Central Florida

Healthcare Federal Credit Union.

Robert Young, President and CEO of Central Vermont Public

Service Corporation.

Ronald L. Turner, Chairman, President, and CEO of Ceridian

Corporation.

Martha W. Miller, President and CEO of Choice Community

Credit Union.

Dr. Thomas W. Cole, President Emeritus of Clark Atlanta

University.

Melinda Estes, M.D., CEO of Cleveland Clinic Florida.

Dr. Randal R. Wisbey, President of Columbia Union College.

J. Alan Pughes, President and CEO of Community One Federal

Credit Union.

David E. Addison, President and CEO of Constitution State

Corporate Credit Union.

Thomas A Dattilo, Chairman, President, and CEO of Cooper

Tire and Rubber Company.

Jim Sinegal, President and CEO of Costco Wholesale.

Father O'Connor, President of DeSales University.

David Nelms, President and COO of Discover Financial

Services, Inc.

Victor A. Roque, President of Duquesne Light.

Dr. Stephen M. Jordan, President of Eastern Washington

University.

Daniel A. Carp, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of

Eastman Kodak Co.

Rebecca Rae Stilling, President of EDFUND.

Barrett O'Connor, President of EFS Bank.

Dr. Stafford L. Thompson, President of Enterprise State

Junior College.

Joseph E. O'Dell, CEO of First Commonwealth Financial Corp.

Gary Burkart, Director of Public Affairs of Flagstar Bank.

Garry Jones, President of Full Sail Real World Education.

Dr. John A. Davitt, Superintendent and President of

Glendale Community College.

Aaron Dobrinsky, Chairman of the Board of Go America

Communications.

Bob Ambrose, Manager of Government Affairs of Great River

Energy.

Stephen W. Pogemiller, President and CEO of Heritage

Community Credit Union.

Patricia J. Ellis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of

HEW Federal Credit Union.

Mike Laign, President and CEO of Holy Redeemer Health

System.

Dr. John S. Erwin, President of Illinois Central College.

Larry F. Altenbaumer, President of Illinois Power.

Carmella Grahn, Executive Vice President of IndyMac Bank.

Dr. Glen R. Roquemore, President of Irvine Valley College.

Craig M. Bradley, President and CEO of Kane County Teachers

Credit Union.

Frank J. Perez, Chief Executive Officer, Kettering Medical

Center Network and Kettering Adventist HealthCare of

Kettering Medical Center Network.

Dr. Norm Nielsen, President of Kirkwood Community College.

Richard Gifford, CEO of LAFCU.

Susan Ramsey Wilson, Director of Marketing and Public

Relations of Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital.

Steve Newberry, President and COO of Lam Research

Corporation.

Don Logan, President and General Manager of the Las Vegas

51s.

Bob Armstrong, Vice President of Clinical Services of Lima

Memorial Health System.

Susan J. Ganz, CEO of Lion Brothers Company Inc.

Dr. Algeania W. Freeman, President of Livingstone College.

Dr. Craig Dean Willis, President of Lock Haven University.

Charlie Etheredge, Principal of Locklin Technical Center.

Stephen Endaya, President and CEO of Los Angeles Police

Federal Credit Union.

Dr. Tyree Wieder, President of Los Angeles Valley College.

Dr. John A. Rock, Chancellor of LSU Health Sciences Center

in New Orleans.

J. Dwane Baumgardner, Vice Chairman of Magna Donnelly.

Dr. Mary Cantrell, Director of Manatee Technical Institute.

Keith Campbell, Chairman of the Board of Mannington Mills,

Inc.

Michael Minkos, General Manager of Mass. Municipal

Wholesale Electric Company.

Martin A. White, Chairman and CEO of MDU Resources Group,

Inc.

Lawrence J. Burns, VP for Institutional Advancement of

Medical College of Ohio.

Alan Kaufrnan, Treasurer and CEO of Melrose Credit Union.

John E. Brubaker, President of Members Heritage Federal

Credit Union.

David P. Benn, CEO of Memorial Hospitals Association.

Jim Roberts, Vice President, Public Affairs of Minnesota

Power (aka ALLETE).

Dr. Drew Bogner, President of Molloy College.

J. Stewart Fuller, CEO of Monterey Credit Union.

Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., President Emeritus and Nigel

Harris, M.D., Dean and Senior Vice President of Academic

Affairs of Morehouse School of Medicine.

Tim Hayward, Administrator and CEO of Nacogdoches Memorial

Hospital.

Michael Leggiero, President and CEO of North Hudson

Community Action Corporation.

Dr. Robert C. Ernst, President of Northcentral Technical

College.

Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D., President of Nova Southeastern

University.

Bruce M. Elegant, President and CEO of Oak Park Hospital.

Dr. Richard Thompson, Chancellor of Oakland Community

College.

Gerald D. Fitzgerald, President and CEO of Oakwood

Healthcare Inc.

Dan Evans, Dean of Ohio University Southern Campus.

Gary Wehrle, President, and CEO of Pacific Crest Bank.

Bruce Markowitz, CEO and President of Palisades Medical

Center.

James McNulty, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of

Parsons Corporation.

Chester A. Wynn, President and CEO of Passavant Area

Hospital.

Dr. Ann M. Williams, Campus Executive Officer, Lehigh

Campus and Asst. Dean for Academic Affairs, Burns-Lehigh

Valley College of Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus.

Michael P. Falcone, CEO of Pioneer Companies.

Jeff Sterba, Chairman, President and CEO of PNM Resources,

Inc.

Richard E. Yochum, President and CEO of Pomona Valley

Hospital Medical Center.

Paul Bonell, President and CEO of Premier Community Credit

Union.

Earnest Gibson III, Administrator and CEO of Riverside

General Hospital.

Jeffrey Philipps, President and CEO of Rosauers

Supermarkets, Inc.

Sam W. Downing, President and Chief Executive Officer of

Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System.

Christopher W. Evenson, President of Salt Lake City Credit

Union.

Frank T. Beirne, CEO of Samaritan Hospital.

Jeffrey H. Farver, President and CEO of San Antonio Federal

Credit Union.

John J. Smolinksy, President and CEO of Saugus Federal

Credit Union.

Dr. Richard L. Behrendt, President of Sauk Valley Community

College.

Nancy Layton, Marketing Manager of Service Credit Union.

Kelby Krabbenhoft, President and CEO of Sioux Valley

Hospitals and Health System.

Vincent J. McCorkle, President and CEO of Sisters of

Providence Health System.

Louis Giancola, President of South County Hospital.

Ingo Angermeier, President and CEO of Spartanburg Regional

Healthcare System.

Ernest G. Clark, Executive Director of Spencerian College.

Dr. Andrew A. Lasser, Dr. P.H., President and CEO of St.

Joseph Hospital.

Dr. Charles L. Cotrell, President of St. Mary's

University--San Antonio, Texas.

John Maher, CEO of St. Vincent's.

Dr. Vic Morgan, President of Sul Ross State University.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. By passing this legislation today the House will take its final step towards banning the truly horrifying practice whereby an innocent life is taken in a most gruesome way. The House has passed legislation in each of the last four Congresses banning partial- birth abortions. In the 104th and 105th Congresses, President Clinton vetoed the partial-birth abortion bans.

During this procedure, which is used in second and third trimester abortions, the infant's body id delivered, leaving only the head in the womb. At that point, the abortionist pierces the back of the infant's skull with a sharp instrument and then proceeds to vacuum out the infant's brain tissue, thus collapsing the skull, allowing the now-dead infant's body to be extracted.

Some opponents of this legislation have argued that they fear for the health of the mother in an emergency. I can assure them that this procedure is never used in a real emergency, because it takes three days to prepare and complete this procedure.

This legislation makes it a federal crime for a physician, in or affecting interstate commerce, to perform a so-called partial birth abortion, unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother. Under H.R. 760, anyone who knowingly performs a partial-birth abortion would be subject to fines and up to two years in prison. The bill provides that a defendant could seek a hearing before the state medical board on whether his or her conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother, and further provides that those findings may be admissible at trial.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this very important legislation. Thanks to President Bush, this Congress finally has an opportunity to ban the gruesome

procedure without the threat of a presidential veto. By passing S. 3 today, we will finally be able to protect innocent babies who, through no fault of their own, have their lives taken.

Mr. Speaker, charitable organizations are vital to the health and well-being of American citizens. Charity benefits both the giver and the receiver in like proportions. The act of giving elevates the heart of the giver; the act of receiving elevates the condition of the recipient. Charity is a blessed act that should suffer no discouragement from something so punitive as the Tax Code.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that two major components of H.R. 7 are based upon legislation I have introduced for almost 20 years, the Charitable Giving Tax Relief Act and the IRA Charitable Rollover Incentive Act. The Charitable Giving Tax Relief Act allow nonitemizers to deduct 100 percent of any charitable contributions up to the amount of standard deduction.

Secondly, under H.R. 7, individuals age 70\1/2\ or older will be able to contribute amounts currently held in IRA accounts directly to qualified charities without having to first recognize the income for tax purposes and then take a charitable deduction.

We now have an excellent opportunity to advance sound tax policy and sound social policy by returning to our Nation's historical emphasis on private activities and personal involvement in the well-being of our communities.

I congratulate all, and I urge everyone to vote for the bill.

Mr. Speaker, from spiritual counseling to rape crisis centers, charitable organizations are vital to the health and well- being of American citizens. Charity benefits both the giver and receiver in like proportions. The act of giving elevates the heart of the giver; the act of receiving elevates the condition of the recipient.

Charity is a blessed act that should suffer no discouragement from something so punitive as the tax code, which contains absurd, yet very real, disincentives to individuals willing and able to exercise the gift of charity. Such disincentives have terrible consequences in reducing the resources available to private organizations. If our tax code were not so laden with peculiarities and oddities, this legislation would not be needed. Unfortunately, in many cases under current law, a contribution results in a loss of some portion of the charitable deduction.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that two major components of H.R. 7 are based upon legislation I have introduced for many years, the Charitable Giving Tax Relief Act and the IRA Charitable Rollover Incentive Act. The Charitable Giving Tax Relief Act allows non- itemizers to deduct 100 percent of any charitable contributions up to the amount of the standard deduction. Under current law, while non- itemizers receive the standard deduction, only itemizers can take a deduction for their charitable contributions. Approximately two-thirds of tax returns filed do not claim itemized deductions; therefore those taxpayers are not eligible to deduct their charitable contributions. the majority of non-itemizers are low- and middle-income taxpayers. The tax code should provide a tax benefit to all taxpayers, not just those who itemize.

Secondly, I am pleased that H.R. 7 includes language based upon the IRA Charitable Rollover Incentive Act. Under H.R. 7, individuals age 70\1/2\ or older will be able to contribute amounts currently held in Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) directly to qualified charities without having to first recognize the income for tax purposes and then take a charitable deduction.

The IRA was intended to encourage individuals to save for retirement, but due to the general increase in asset values over the years, many individuals have more than sufficient funds to retire comfortably. Thus it is a common practice for retirees to transfer some of their wealth to charities and, in some cases, that wealth is held in an IRA. Unfortunately, in many cases under current law such a simple arrangement results in a loss of some portion of the charitable deduction. This legislation will give individuals more freedom to allocate their resources as they see fit while providing badly

needed resources to churches, colleges and universities, and other social organizations.

We now have an excellent opportunity to advance sound tax policy and sound social policy by returning to our Nation's historical emphasis on private activities and personal involvement in the well-being of our communities. I commend the authors of this legislation and urge all of my colleagues to support this vitally important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the Record and the benefit of my colleagues, a letter from Mr. David M. Spooner, Textile Negotiator for the United States Trade Representative, to Senator Charles E. Grassley, Chairman of the Committee on Finance, clarifying the textile commercial availability provisions in the Singapore and Chile Free Trade Agreements.

Executive Office of the President, Office of the United

States Trade Representative, Washington, DC, July 25,

2003.

Hon. Charles E. Grassley,

Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, Dirksen Senate

Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Grassley: I understand that the Committee has

received inquiries regarding the textile commercial

availability provisions in the Singapore and Chile Free Trade

Agreements and am therefore writing to clarify the

agreements' commercial availability sections.

The Singapore FTA would deem as not commercially available

all products designated as such prior to November 2002 (prior

to the completion of the SFTA negotiations) for the AGOA and

CBTPA preference programs. The Chile FTA does not contain

such a provision. In the future, for both the Singapore and

Chile FTAs, to designate additional items as not commercially

available, either the United States or our trading partners

would have to utilize the consultation provisions of the

agreement's ``Revision of Rules of Origin'' section. This

section requires the Parties to consult, upon request, to

consider whether particular goods should be subject to

different rules of origin to address issues of availability

of supply of fibers, yarns or fabrics in the free trade area

and requires the Parties to endeavor to conclude their

consultations within 60 days of the request.

I hope the above explanation is helpful. Please feel free

to have Committee staff contact my office at 202-395-3026 if

the Committee has any comments or questions.

Sincerely,

David M. Spooner,

Textile Negotiator.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2877.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling).

Mr. Speaker, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), our distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules.

(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to rise today in support of H.R. 2738, legislation that implements the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. The U.S.-Chile FTA has been a very long time in coming. During the NAFTA non-markup 10 years ago, I offered an amendment expressing the sense of Congress that the President should begin FTA negotiations with Chile. Finally, this has come to fruition.

Chile has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Over the last two decades, Chile has established a vigorous democracy, a thriving and open economy built on trade and a free market society. The U.S.-Chile FTA will help Chile continue its impressive record of growth, development and poverty reduction. It will also help spur progress in the free trade area of the Americas, and will send a positive message throughout the world by demonstrating that we will work in partnership with those who are committed to free markets.

The U.S.-Chile FTA provides new trade opportunities for U.S. workers and manufacturers. More than 85 percent of two-way trade in consumer and industrial products will become tariff free immediately, with most remaining tariffs being eliminated within 4 years. This tariff elimination will benefit manufacturers, workers and consumers in such key industries as construction equipment, autos and auto parts, computers and other information technology products and medical equipment.

The agreement also allows access to new opportunities and benefits to Chile's fast-growing services sector for U.S. service providers.

In the area of agriculture, more than three-quarters of U.S. farm goods will enter Chile tariff free within 4 years, and all remaining tariffs will be phased out within 12 years. New opportunities for trade and numerous agricultural sectors such as soybeans, pork and feed grains, as well as in processed food products such as distilled spirits and breakfast cereals, will be created by this FTA.

The U.S.-Chile FTA is also groundbreaking in many areas. For example, the U.S.-Chile FTA will be a benchmark for future trade agreements because of the protections given to U.S. intellectual property rights. These new protections in digital areas such as software, music, text and videos go beyond past trade agreements in addressing protection for U.S. patents and trade secrets.

A U.S.-Chile FTA will provide tremendous benefits to the economies of both the United States and Chile. According to a study that was conducted by the University of Michigan and Tufts University, it is estimated that a U.S.-Chile FTA will expand U.S. GDP by $4.2 billion annually.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill and to use this opportunity to strengthen the United States' strong relationship with Chile, which will extend the benefits of the free trade agreement to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady) and that he be permitted to manage the time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 2739, a bill which will implement the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement that was concluded between the United States and Singapore in January of this year. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement is, along with the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement, a watershed in U.S. trade policy. These are the first FTAs to be considered by Congress since the passage of the U.S.-Jordan FTA in 2001 and the first to be considered under Fast Track procedures established as part of last year's landmark bipartisan trade promotion authority since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement almost 10 years ago.

The fact that this agreement is one of the first to be considered under TPA authority, however, is not only the first for the U.S.- Singapore agreement. The U.S.-Singapore FTA, along with the U.S.-Chile FTA, is one of the first agreements of its kind, laying the groundwork and establishing high benchmarks for future trade agreements. For example, in the area of investment, the U.S.-Singapore FTA makes improvements to NAFTA chapter 11 model called for in TPA by providing more transparency, greater public input in the dispute resolutions process, and mechanisms to improve the investor-state process by eliminating frivolous claims.

The agreement is also groundbreaking in the area of intellectual property rights, providing new WTO plus state-of-the-art protections for U.S. patents and trade secrets and for digital products such as U.S. software, music, text, and videos. Enforcement of intellectual property rights is also enhanced and strengthened under this agreement.

I am also pleased that Singapore, as part of this agreement, has agreed both to permit the importation of certain chewing gums into Singapore and to allow some chewing gums with therapeutic value to be sold without a prescription in Singapore pharmacies. This issue may seem small to us, but it is a big step for them, demonstrating Singapore's commitment to the FTA and its willingness to strengthen its strong trade and economic relationship with the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that this agreement is a win-win agreement for both the United States and Singapore. I urge my colleagues to support the bill and to support the further opening of trade between the United States and Singapore.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), our distinguished chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, for a colloquy with our other distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman).

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to our distinguished colleague from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Herger).

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement marks the first time the United States has entered into an FTA with an Asia-Pacific nation. Also, our agreement with Chile marks the first time that we have entered into a free trade agreement with a South America nation. Those will serve as precedents for further, ongoing negotiations and agreements, I am sure.

Because 99 percent of trade and goods with Singapore is already tariff-free, this agreement focuses on removing restrictions on trade and services to the benefit of our massive service sector, which accounts for around 80 percent of our GDP. Singapore is the 12th largest trading partner with the United States, with two-way trade approaching $40 billion last year. The U.S.-Singapore FTA will enhance and strengthen this trade relationship.

These agreements reflect bipartisan consensus in TPA on labor and the environment. Some Members seek to reopen that consensus, but the law does not support them. The gentleman from Michigan is right: Singapore is not the model for future agreements nor is Chile. Trade Promotion Authority is the model and the law. These agreements embody that law and contain strong, enforceable labor and environment provisions.

The U.S.-Singapore FTA will serve as the foundation for other possible FTAs in Southeast Asia just as our Chilean agreement will do the same in South America. The FTA establishes standards for trade that mirror U.S. law and sets a precedent for future agreements.

I urge my colleagues to join in collegial, bipartisan support for these important trade bills that serve our interest as well as our trading partners' interests.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to lay on the table the motion to reconsider.

Mr. Speaker, I move to lay the motion to reconsider on the table.