In this update you will find:
1. Update on Fastrack
2. What can you do to stop Fast Track?/VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK!
3. Why stop Fast Track?/Background Info
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Dear Friends,
For the last 7 months, we have been updating you on the struggle to STOP Fast Track Trade Negotiating Authority. In December, the first Fast Track bill went through Congress and we lost by one single vote. In May, the second bill went through the Senate and passed as well. The Fast Track bill is still being debated in Congress, in a conference committee where House and Senate representatives are trying to mesh the two forms of the bill Together. It is possible that the bill will come out of committee and onto the House floor for a vote before the August recess, which begins on July 26th.
So, the fight to STOP FAST TRACK is not over, and we need your help to stop it!
Thank you so much for your continued support. Please pass along this e-mail to your family and friends all across the country. Together we will STOP FAST TRACK once and for all!
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WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE The AFL-CIO is sponsoring a toll free number for you to express your opinions to your elected representatives. All you have to do is call 1-877-611-0063 and you will be connected to the Capitol SwitchBoard. You may ask for your representative by name. You can leave a message with the voicemail if there is no person to answer the phone. You can also call your Representative at their District Office.
When you get your Representative's office, let them know that you want to convey your OPPOSITION to "Fast Track". Make sure that your Representative hears that you want them to vote AGAINST Fast Track, and that you strongly believe the formation of trade policy should be open, transparent and democratic.
2. VOLUNTEER AT GLOBAL EXCHANGE *If you are in the Bay Area, join Global Exchange, Public Citizen and the Contra Costa Labor Council in a phonebank next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (July 16-18) from 6-8 at Global Exchange. We are located at 2017 Mission St, 3rd floor, at the corner of 16th and Mission streets in San Francisco.
We will be calling Global Exchange members and trade unionists in districts where members of Congress are wavering about whether or not they will support Fast Track. We will particularly be focusing on the districts of Ellen Tauscher and Anna Eshoo. Please call Leila Salazar at 415-255-7296 to confirm and PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!
We will also be leafletting at events, such as farmer's markets, in Representative Tausher and Eshoo's districts. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us!
3. MEET WITH YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS In the short time left, you can try to meet with them when they return to your district, call the office to set up an appointment with them or their aides.
4. Send Letters to the Editor about Fast Track.
5. ORGANIZE A TOWN HALL MEETING
***FOR MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND IDEAS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STOP FAST TRACK, PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT : http://www.globalexchange.org/fasttrack or e-mail us at ftaa@globalexchange.org
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WHY STOP FAST TRACK?
Fast Track is a fundamentally undemocratic procedure by which the US Congress surrenders its ability to craft trade policy. If Fast Track passes, debate on trade bills will be severely limited, and will curtain the ability of average citizens, like us, to make our views known about the so-called Free Trade agreements. See http://www.globalexchange.org/fasttrack/faq.html for more info.
Beating Fast Track is important because it is the first step towards defeating the planned Free Trade Area of Americas. The Free Trade Area of America's (FTAA) is a multi-national plan to expand NAFTA from Canada to Argentina. The plan would allow the Presidents of all countries included to make trade decisions without the consent of their Congresses.
Not only would the FTAA be detrimental to Americans, it would allow foreign corporations to sue the United States government if they are able to provide proof that some regulation of the United States limited their profits in some way. If the trial would go to court it would be up to the American taxpayer to foot the bill if the foreign company won the case. See http://www.globalexchange.org/ftaa/index.html for more info.
President Bush is trying to drive "Fast Track" through Congress right now. On Monday, he was quoted as saying, "Creating more jobs and strengthening our economy are critical priorities. And Congress can act to create jobs by giving me trade promotion authority. Expanding trade means new jobs for American workers. Congress has debated trade now for more than a year. It's time to stop talking; it's time to start acting. Congress should act to create American jobs before it goes home for the August recess."
Unfortunately, President Bush has it all wrong! Fast Track (and the FTAA) will not create more jobs for Americans. It will send US jobs abroad, which will hurt the US economy. It will export sweatshops and low wage jobs to countries like Mexico and China, where the rights of workers to organize are not respected. In addition, Fast Track is a blank check for US corporations to disregard environmental protections in the US, as well as other countries around the world. We need to urge Congress to uphold democracy, protect our economy, and our environment by saying NO TO FAST TRACK!
For more information?
Contact any member of the Global Trade Watch field team at gtwfield@citizen.org
202-546-4996. You can also check the website at www.tradewatch.org
