Fast Track Action Alert

[MDOLAN <mdolan@citizen.org>]

  THE PRESIDENT WILL INTRODUCE FAST TRACK THIS WEEK!                 
  he wants the Congress to give him authority to negotiate trade pacts
  (starting with NAFTA expansion)
  in a way that excludes congressional participation in the process
  (limited debate, no amendments, up-or-down vote). 
  
  
  Call Your Representative or his/her "Trade Staffer" ASAP.
             CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD******1-888-723-5246
  Declare Your Opposition to NAFTA Expansion and "Fast Track"
  
  Here's three talking points:
  
  1)    NAFTA has created new problems.
  
        Our food supply is less safe. Due to the increase in border traffic 
  in meat and produce, more food with dangerous pesticide residues or 
  bacteria is getting to our kitchens. Less than 1 percent of the imports of 
  fruit and vegetables coming from Mexico is inspected at the border.
        
        The diminished inspection rates along our border has resulted in an
  unprecedented flow of illegal drugs. Along our southern border, the drugs 
  and uninspected foods are coming across in over-large, often unsafe trucks, 
  which have increased access to U.S. highways under NAFTA.
  
  2)    None of the promises of NAFTA's supporters have been fulfilled.
  
        Instead of creating jobs, as the pro-"free trade" corporate lobbyists 
  predicted, NAFTA is responsible for the loss of nearly half-a-million U.S. 
  jobs.
            
        Instead of cleaning up the environment along the U.S.-Mexico border, 
  water and air pollution have increased. A massive increase of industries 
  has pushed the border ecology to the breaking point.
  
  3)    "Fast track" authority for the President is unnecessary and outdated.
  
        The Administration regularly brags that they have completed over 200 
  trade
  agreements -- but never mentions that only two (NAFTA and GATT) -- needed 
  "fast track."
    
        It made more sense when Nixon created it to deal with the Japanese on 
  bilateral, sector-intensive (e.g., autos, steel) issues.  But today, so 
  many issues -- labor rights, environmental protection, food safety -- are 
  tied up in these multilateral deals, Congress should take a more 
  meaningful, balanced role in the formulation of our trade policy.
            
        The delegation of congressional authority to regulate foreign 
  commerce, and craft and ratify treaties, is illogical in the global 
  economy.  
  
        Under "fast track," Congress abdicates to the President its power to 
  thoroughly review or fix bad trade deals.
  
  *******Instead of EXPANDING NAFTA we should be FIXING IT!*******
  
  At Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, we know that when you're headed in 
  the wrong direction, a fast-track is the last thing you need.
  
  That number again: 1-888-723-5246
  It is urgent that you call your congress member this week.
  Keep calling until s/he or the Trade L.A. (legislative aide) writes down 
  your name and address in the district and allows you to make all three of 
  the important foregoing points.  AND you must get others to do this too.
  
  Please distribute widely.
  
  
  ****************************************************************************
   /s/ Mike Dolan, Field Director, Global Trade Watch, Public Citizen
  
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