Published July 2001 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View
By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd
Derail Fast Track
Once again, a President is pressing for special authority to ram through international trade agreements with little input from Congress. As supporters of this so-called "fast-track" authority, many members of the House of Representatives, and some of my colleagues in the Senate, advocate a wholesale surrender of Congress' Constitutional authority over foreign commerce. Although the President is given the power to negotiate with foreign governments, Congress has the responsibility to accept, reject, or modify any proposed trade agreements. Under fast track, Congress would forsake its duty and would agree to consider most trade legislation under mandatory deadlines, with limited debate and no amendments. This blurs a very clear line that separates the Executive and the Legislative branches of the federal government. Fast-track authority could also very easily allow the principles of fair trade to be undermined. In the new world of international trade, our trading partners often come to the table proposing elaborate changes to U.S. laws that could harm American industries and close factory doors. The domestic workers who would suffer by such proposed modifications are given no voice in this process. Under fast-track authority, the voice of Congress is also essentially muted. The House and Senate would become mere rubber stamps for potentially flawed trade laws. I oppose any such efforts that would tie the hands of Congress and deny the people fair representation. I am against fast track. Too many American workers, companies, and communities have felt the sting of unfair trade for too long. Let the Administration proponents of fast track come to West Virginia and talk to the steelworkers who lost their jobs because of illegal trade practices. Let the advocates of fast track attempt to explain how their plans will help communities -like those in our state that once boasted garment and shoemaking factories and glass and pottery plants that have gone out business as a result of unfair trade practices. Although I support increased international trade, it must be fair trade. Fast track certainly does not guarantee a level playing field for U.S. industries. Instead, it puts American industries and workers at a disadvantage. Fast track invokes on the Senate a gag rule. It violates Senators' constitutional liberties of freedom of speech and the right to amend. We cannot permit this odious authority to weaken our voices, to sap the vigor of our democratic institutions, and to blind us to the needs of American communities. July 11, 2001