Economic Relief Must Come First

Op-Ed

Economic Relief Must Come First

Dear Friends:

Last Thursday, I voted with a majority of U.S. House members to reject President Bush's demand that Congress approve his Columbia Free Trade Agreement within 60 days.

Millions of Americans are struggling to hold on to their jobs and homes while millions more pay outrageous prices for gas, healthcare, and other basic needs. If America is entering a recession, providing relief to our citizens and strengthening the U.S. economy should be the top priority of the President and Congress, but President Bush has refused to address these challenges. He has rejected Democratic proposals to help struggling homeowners, stabilize the housing market, bring more accountability to Wall Street, or increase economic support and assistance for families in need.

The President has even vowed to veto an expansion of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which is designed specifically to help workers whose jobs have been shipped overseas. But after saying "no" to this and so many other economic relief plans, President Bush insisted that Congress immediately pass a trade deal with Colombia. Without consulting House or Senate leaders, he submitted the trade agreement under "Fast Track" rules that prohibit Congress from making any changes but require an up-or-down vote within 60 days.

The Colombia Free Trade Agreement will have minimal positive impact for U.S. workers while tying us closer to a government plagued by drug-funded terrorism, widespread murder of union organizers, and one of the highest numbers of internally displaced persons in the world.

On Thursday, the House of Representatives exercised its authority to reject Fast Track rules and restore the full process of congressional consideration, without a deadline, for the Colombia trade deal. Congress will not take further action on the agreement until President Bush abandons his divisive approach and begins working with us to address the immediate economic needs of U.S. families.

Sincerely,

Betty McCollum Signature
Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Serving Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District

The Week Ahead

• On the Floor: Economic Support for American Families
This week the House will consider H.R. 5715, a bill to expand federal student loan programs in response to tightening credit markets that are reducing the availability of private college loans. The House will also consider several tax reform bills that will increase assistance for low-income taxpayers while closing tax loopholes that are being exploited by some private contractors in Iraq. Click here to learn more.

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