DATE=5/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGRESS/ CHINA TRADE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262257
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pressure is building on members of the U-S
House of Representatives as a crucial vote on trade
with China approaches. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports
those who favor and those who oppose the trade bill
are battling for votes with news conferences and press
releases.
TEXT: These are the days of back-to-back media events
on Capitol Hill. With a vote on permanent normal
trade relations with China less than two weeks away,
both sides are stepping up their campaigns for public
and congressional support.
Everyone knows the results in the House will be close.
President Clinton told a radio interviewer Thursday
that supporters do not yet have the votes to pass the
trade bill, though he is predicting victory in the
end.
The president is finding himself at odds with many
members of his own party in the House of
Representatives. Michigan's David Bonior -- the
number-two Democrat in the House -- is staging daily
news conferences with various groups opposed to the
China trade legislation. Before lawmakers went home
for the weekend, Mr. Bonior appeared on the Capitol
lawn with prominent environmentalists.
/// BONIOR ACT ///
We will never get a handle on our global
environmental challenges until every nation
respects the link between economic growth and
environmental protection. Trade with China
could be a great opportunity to improve that
link, but permanently locking us into an
agreement that completely omits environmental
standards doesn't make it ... doesn't cut it
[will not work].
/// END ACT ///
Not to be outdone, members of the Republican
leadership who favor the trade bill appeared before
cameras an hour later with workers from the high-
technology sector.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert said the trade bill will
enable high-tech businesses to continue to grow.
/// HASTERT ACT ///
The most basic thing that Congress can do to
help the high-tech industry is [to] open up
foreign markets, so there is a market for their
products and a market for their goods
/// END ACT ///
The House takes up the trade bill the week of May 22nd,
with the Senate scheduled to act in early June. Both
chambers must approve the measure in order for it to
become law. (Signed)
NEB/PW/WTW
11-May-2000 18:12 PM EDT (11-May-2000 2212 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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