Phil Crane

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 2739, a bill which will implement the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement that was concluded between the United States and Singapore in January of this year. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement is, along with the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement, a watershed in U.S. trade policy. These are the first FTAs to be considered by Congress since the passage of the U.S.-Jordan FTA in 2001 and the first to be considered under Fast Track procedures established as part of last year's landmark bipartisan trade promotion authority since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement almost 10 years ago. The fact that this agreement is one of the first to be considered under TPA authority, however, is not only the first for the U.S.- Singapore agreement. The U.S.-Singapore FTA, along with the U.S.-Chile FTA, is one of the first agreements of its kind, laying the groundwork and establishing high benchmarks for future trade agreements. For example, in the area of investment, the U.S.-Singapore FTA makes improvements to NAFTA chapter 11 model called for in TPA by providing more transparency, greater public input in the dispute resolutions process, and mechanisms to improve the investor-state process by eliminating frivolous claims. The agreement is also groundbreaking in the area of intellectual property rights, providing new WTO plus state-of-the-art protections for U.S. patents and trade secrets and for digital products such as U.S. software, music, text, and videos. Enforcement of intellectual property rights is also enhanced and strengthened under this agreement. I am also pleased that Singapore, as part of this agreement, has agreed both to permit the importation of certain chewing gums into Singapore and to allow some chewing gums with therapeutic value to be sold without a prescription in Singapore pharmacies. This issue may seem small to us, but it is a big step for them, demonstrating Singapore's commitment to the FTA and its willingness to strengthen its strong trade and economic relationship with the United States. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this agreement is a win-win agreement for both the United States and Singapore. I urge my colleagues to support the bill and to support the further opening of trade between the United States and Singapore. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), our distinguished chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, for a colloquy with our other distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English).

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to our distinguished colleague from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe).

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Herger).

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement marks the first time the United States has entered into an FTA with an Asia-Pacific nation. Also, our agreement with Chile marks the first time that we have entered into a free trade agreement with a South America nation. Those will serve as precedents for further, ongoing negotiations and agreements, I am sure. Because 99 percent of trade and goods with Singapore is already tariff-free, this agreement focuses on removing restrictions on trade and services to the benefit of our massive service sector, which accounts for around 80 percent of our GDP. Singapore is the 12th largest trading partner with the United States, with two-way trade approaching $40 billion last year. The U.S.-Singapore FTA will enhance and strengthen this trade relationship. These agreements reflect bipartisan consensus in TPA on labor and the environment. Some Members seek to reopen that consensus, but the law does not support them. The gentleman from Michigan is right: Singapore is not the model for future agreements nor is Chile. Trade Promotion Authority is the model and the law. These agreements embody that law and contain strong, enforceable labor and environment provisions. The U.S.-Singapore FTA will serve as the foundation for other possible FTAs in Southeast Asia just as our Chilean agreement will do the same in South America. The FTA establishes standards for trade that mirror U.S. law and sets a precedent for future agreements. I urge my colleagues to join in collegial, bipartisan support for these important trade bills that serve our interest as well as our trading partners' interests.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I move to lay on the table the motion to reconsider.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I move to lay the motion to reconsider on the table.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me the time, and Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2427. It is clear to me that the best way to help seniors is both to ensure that they have access to safe, affordable prescription drugs and to foster an environment where innovation can flourish, where new and better drug treatments will be developed for future generations. The U.S. continues to be the world leader in the development of new drugs and treatments that improve the quality of every American. I want to lower drug costs for the seniors in my district, but not at the risk of stifling the very innovation that creates the drugs in the first place. Some have called this a free trade issue. Yet it runs contrary to the fundamental tenets of free trade. Free trade creates efficiencies by opening borders, lowering tariffs, and giving consumers access to products and services from other countries. Reimportation stands this fundamental tenet on its head by giving Americans access to American pharmaceuticals that have been sold to the Canadian Government, a single payer that can, in effect, name its price at a lower cost than the laws of supply and demand allow. Congress can take a number of different steps to lower the cost of drugs for all consumers. We have already taken the most important one by passing a $400 billion drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of a free trade partnership with both Chile and Singapore. We should all support the model that Chile provides for economic, social, and democratic development. Chile more than doubled its GDP during the 1990s. It was the fourth fastest growing economy in the world. This extraordinary growth was fostered by low inflation, a balanced budget, clear regulatory accountability, a strong financial system, and a competitive economy. It ranks high, higher than many developed countries on international indices measuring economic success. Mr. Speaker, the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement is a comprehensive, leading-edge agreement that includes U.S. trade negotiating objectives and strengthens an important economic relationship with a strategic U.S. trading partner. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement sets many precedents, including lower barriers to trade and high-technology products and services and establishing new standards for intellectual property protection. I urge my colleagues to support both of these critically portrayed agreements that we have negotiated that will set a positive example in both regions of the world.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Iowa. The international mobility of business professionals has become an increasingly important aspect of our competitive markets for both suppliers and consumers. Facilitating the movement of professionals allows trade partners to more efficiently provide each other with services such as architecture, engineering, consulting, and construction. TPA establishes that the principal negotiating objective regarding trade in services is to reduce or eliminate barriers to international trade in services. Each trade negotiation the United States enters, like Chile and Singapore, is approached individually to determine if the conclusion of a temporary entry chapter will benefit U.S. trade in services, and if so, whether a section on temporary entry of professionals is needed in the agreement. The Chile and Singapore Free Trade Agreements contain provisions allowing for the temporary entry of business professionals into the other party to facilitate trade in services. This amendment would potentially limit our ability to discuss our current obligations under NAFTA, Chile and Singapore. This amendment would also encourage other industries that would like their issues taken off the table in future negotiations to offer amendments. The administration worked diligently to address concerns on temporary entry in the Singapore and Chile FTA, and it is very sensitive to Members' concerns regarding the inclusion of temporary entry provisions in free trade agreements. USTR inherited a tradition of including such temporary entry provisions in trade agreements from prior administrations. These provisions are used to facilitate trade in services which is a predominant economic interest in the U.S. My experience with Ambassador Zoellick is that he is very sensitive and responsive to congressional concerns, and I am confident that he will be in this regard as well.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1950, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act. This legislation includes much needed reforms to how the United States distributes foreign aid. President Bush's new foreign aid initiative, the Millennium Challenge Account, offers aid only to those countries that meet certain standards of respecting human rights, investing in the future of their peoples, and promoting economic opportunity and freedom. With this proposal, President Bush has issued a challenge to help those that are less fortunate, to promote universal human rights and values around the world, and to be part of the worldwide spread of democracy and freedom. This past March, I introduced H. Con. Res. 119, a resolution that offers Congress's condolences to the loved ones of those innocent Americans that have been killed in Israel, and calls on the Palestinian Authority to work with Israel to protect all innocent people (regardless of citizenship) from terrorist violence. Sadly, since H. Con. Res. 119 was introduced, four more Americans have been murdered by Palestinian terrorists. That is why I offered an amendment to H.R. 1950 that incorporates the text of H. Con. Res. 119 with some additions to reflect the deaths and injuries inflicted on American citizens by terrorists since its introduction. Since Yasser Arafat, on behalf of the Palestinian people, renounced violence in the Oslo Peace Accords on September 13, 1993, at least 41 Americans have been killed by Palestinian terrorists. At least another 79 Americans have been injured in terrorist attacks. That grim total includes a knife attack on an expectant mother that resulted in the death of her unborn child. My amendment also requires that the State Department begin to include the killing of every American by terrorists in its annual "Chronology of Significant Terrorist Incidents," as reported in future Patterns of Global Terrorism reports. This amendment will make the American public more aware of the harm coming to our citizens overseas and show the surviving families that Congress knows and cares about the deaths of their loved ones. And it will reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that terrorism--both in America and in Israel--will be defeated. I would like to thank International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde and Ranking Member Tom Lantos for their assistance and support for H. Con. Res. 119 and this amendment. In addition to my own staff, I also want to thank Andrew Shore and Shalla Ross of the House Republican Conference and Paul Teller of the Republican Study Committee for their hard work on this issue.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor today to welcome Pastor Deborah Logan as our guest chaplain. Pastor Logan serves as a co-pastor at the Christian Faith Fellowship Church in Zion, Illinois, with her husband, Pastor James E. Logan. In 1994, Pastor Logan and her husband, James, were ordained and installed as first assistant pastors of the Christian Faith Fellowship Church Waukegan. Three years later, she and James took the helm as pastors in the same church, now known as the Christian Faith Fellowship Church Zion. Since then Pastor Logan and her husband have worked together to build a church in the North Shore area to uplift and encourage families through spiritual guidance and fellowship. These days the ministry continues to experience phenomenal growth as the vision of strong families led by strong spirit-filled men in their rightful place in the home is fulfilled. I have had the privilege to join them at one of their services, and it was a joyous and uplifting experience. Pastor Logan and her husband have been married for 15 years, and together they have two beautiful children, Cameron James and Llexis Charity. I thank Pastor Logan for her continued dedication to her church, her community, and our country. I deem it an honor and privilege to welcome Pastor Deborah Logan to the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, my return flight to Washington was unavoidably detained due to inclement weather, and I therefore missed two votes this evening. I ask that the Congressional Record reflect that had I been here, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 334, the Hostettler Amendment, and ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 335, final passage of H.R. 2658.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the mayor of Lindenhurst, Illinois, Paul Baumunk, whose outstanding leadership and commitment to community service has significantly benefited the people of Lindenhurst. A longtime resident of Lindenhurst, Mayor Paul Baumunk served as a teacher in Lake County for 31 years, both with the Lake Forest High School and the College of Lake County Vocational Center. He also served as a member of the Lindenhurst Plan Commission and the Lindenhurst Lakes Commission. In addition, Paul somehow found the time to participate in the Chamber of Commerce, the Lindenhurst Men's Club, the Lyons Club and in VFW Post #4894. Although he has always been a devoted public servant, Paul has always held his family as a top priority. He and Joy, his wife of 32 years, originally settled in the community of Lindenhurst in 1977 to raise their son Philip and daughter Amy. Paul's retirement will allow him to spend more time with his family, something he will greatly cherish. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in congratulating Mayor Paul Baumunk on his retirement after 12 years of diligent service to the Village of Lindenhurst, Illinois. Paul has been a valuable member of the community for which he cares so deeply, and his service will be greatly missed. I wish him the best of luck in future endeavors, and I know he will enjoy his retirement for many years to come.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1, the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003. As a member of the Committee on Ways and Means' Subcommittee on Health, I can say with confidence that this bill is a fair and balanced approach towards providing millions of America's seniors with prescription drug coverage. Congress is long overdo in helping our seniors with the skyrocketing costs of their prescription medication. Seniors are struggling and we need to help them. But we cannot ignore that the current program without an expensive new drug benefit is not financially stable. The Medicare program is already struggling to provide a finite number of health services to nearly 41 million elderly and disabled. It is imperative that this House takes action before the retirement of the baby boom generation, which will add another 36 million beneficiaries to the Medicare roll. Simply adding a new drug benefit is not the answer. I support H.R. 1 because it includes a number of reforms that will ensure the long-term fiscal integrity of Medicare through modernization. This legislation gives seniors the same range of private health insurance plans available to Members of Congress and other Federal employees. If seniors do not want to enroll in a private plan, they have the option of staying in traditional fee-for-service. The time has come for Congress to work together to move past political rhetoric and provide prescription drug coverage for seniors. More importantly, it is time to institute reforms to ensure that future generations will have the security of knowing that Medicare will be there when they retire. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 1.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, at a time when strained Federal, State, and local budgets are affecting our country's funding for the education of our people, some individuals and organizations in our private sector are doing something about it. They have combined efforts with the Committee for Citizen Awareness (CCA) to provide all the secondary schools and many others in their area with free educational videotapes. These videotapes explain civic issues about our country and how our government works. The CCA is a nearly two-decade-old not-for-profit organization that produces and distributes award-winning educational videotapes that focus on civic issues. These videotapes feature appearances by people such as Secretary of State Colin Powell, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, many Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senators, and other pertinent individuals. The subjects covered in these videotapes are particularly important for a number of reasons. For example, although America is the world's greatest democracy, our people vote at a rate lower than any other country. Surveys have shown that one of the major reasons for not using the right to vote is a general lack of understanding of our government and the citizen's role in it. One of the many civic goals of the CCA and these civic-minded individuals and organizations is to correct this problem with the gift of these educational videotapes. The videotapes are given free to all the public and private high schools, community and junior colleges, community access television stations, and to many libraries and chambers of commerce. Our country and our democracy are better because of the efforts of the CCA and because of its countless dedicated sponsors.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, one of the biggest challenges facing our country today is the fact that nearly 41 million working Americans do not have health insurance. While some opt out of purchasing health insurance, a majority of people simply do not have access to affordable health insurance coverage. Routinely I hear from constituents in my district about this very problem. They are struggling to keep up with ever increasing insurance premiums and are left with few coverage options. Few can afford premium increases of 12 percent or more each year, especially in a slow economy. This is a problem in communities across the United States. In fact, the annual. cost to the United States for uninsured Americans is estimated to be somewhere between $65 and $130 billion. More than 60 percent of the 41 million uninsured Americans work for a small business or are a dependent of a small business worker, and small businesses have been hardest hit by skyrocketing premiums. Currently, labor unions, medium-sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies like Ford, Chrysler and Wal-Mart have the ability to offer health benefits to their employees without complying with the diverse benefit-laden insurance mandates that exist in each of the 50 states. This exemption keeps health insurance costs down. Unfortunately, small businesses, less able to shoulder the burden of such mandates, end up paying almost 18 percent more than their big business counterparts for similar health insurance coverage. This is simply unacceptable. Today, I join my colleagues in supporting, The Small Business Fairness Act (H.R. 660). H.R. 660 allows small businesses to form Association Health Plans (AHPs). I believe that AHPs can help reduce the number of uninsured, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this important legislation. By creating AHPs, small business may pool their resources and increase their bargaining power with insurers, which will allow them to negotiate better rates and purchase quality health. care at a lower cost. H.R. 660 is an important first step toward making health insurance more affordable and accessible. The time has come for all Members of this House to support small businesses. It is time to pass the Small Business Fairness Act.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8, the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2003, and I commend my friend from Washington Mrs. Dunn for being such a strong advocate for this legislation. The United States is the land of opportunity, encouraging free enterprise and rewarding entrepreneurs. The estate and gift tax runs contrary, to this basic philosophy. When I came to Congress over 30 years ago, I set out to eliminate the death tax, which is simply unfair, outdated and penalizes our families, farmers and small business owners. According to recent statistics, one-third of small business owners today will have to sell outright or liquidate a part of their firm to pay death taxes. In addition, half of those who must liquidate to pay their death taxes will each have to eliminate 30 or more jobs. In addition, small business owners that insure against such an outcome face the burden of paying onerous premiums. This is hard-earned money that otherwise could be used to expand their business. We must put an end to it once and for all. Death tax repeal was included as part of the 2001 Bush tax cut. Under that legislation, the death tax phases out over a period of year, and is eliminated completely in 2010. Unfortunately, due to the arcane procedures of the Senate, the provisions in the 2001 bill sunset in 2011, or 10 years after enactment. Therefore, we need to take action now to make the repeal permanent. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank small business and family owned business groups like the National Automobile Dealers Association for tirelessly fighting to end this punitive and harmful tax. They have been powerful and influential advocates in this effort. I ask unanimous consent that the following letter from the National Automobile Dealers Association urging repeal of the Death Tax be included in the Congressional Record. National Automobile Dealers Association, McLean, VA, June 18, 2003. Dear Representative: On behalf of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), the nearly 20,000 franchised new car dealer members of NADA, and their more than one million employees, we are writing to urge you to vote yes on H.R. 8, to eliminate the estate tax once and for all. The majority of NADA's members are small family-owned and community-based businesses. Most assets of automobile dealers are not liquid. A dealer's capital is invested in the land under the dealership, buildings housing showrooms, vehicle repair equipment, and other facilities. Dealers also need substantial working capital to finance new- and used-car inventory. Thus, for dealers, the death tax can cripple or kill the family-owned business since they are left with few options but to sell the business or incur substantial debt to pay the tax. In providing for the elimination of the estate tax in H.R. 1836 in 2001, Congress clearly recognized the inequity and unfairness of estate taxes. As it was noted at the time, there is something very wrong in our system when a small businessman or businesswoman spends a lifetime building a business, paying taxes, providing jobs and serving the community only to have the government step in at their death to collect another tax. In enacting H.R. 1836, Congress and the President wisely realized that death should not trigger a tax. Only when assets are sold should there be a taxable event. The question now before the House of Representatives is whether to continue that wise policy beyond 2010. NADA and its dealer members and their employees firmly believe that supporting H.R. 8, making estate tax repeal permanent and postponing taxes until assets are sold is critical to the preservation of family-owned and community-based businesses like automobile dealerships. Preserving these businesses is crucial to the health of the national economy and essential to the economic well being of local communities. These businesses provide the majority of new job growth in this country. Very often, family-owned businesses are central to the economic vitality of local communities, providing good livelihoods for millions of working Americans. NADA respectfully urges you to vote yes on H.R. 8. This vote is about preserving family-owned businesses in local communities across this great nation. Thank you for your consideration of our views.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H.R. 760, I rise in strong support of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. By passing this legislation we will once again take a step towards banning the truly horrifying practice whereby an innocent life is taken in a most gruesome way. During this procedure, which is used in second and third trimester abortions, the infant's body is delivered, leaving only the head in the womb. At that point the abortionist pieces the back of the infant's skull with a sharp instrument and then proceeds to vacuum out the infant's brain tissue, thus collapsing the skull, allowing the now-dead infant's body to be extracted. This legislation makes it a federal crime for a physician, in or affecting interstate commerce, to perform a so-called partial birth abortion, unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother. Under H.R. 760, anyone who knowingly preforms a partial-birth abortion would be subject to fines and up to two years in prison. The bill provides that a defendant could seek a hearing before the state medical board on whether his or her conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother, and further provides that those findings may be admissible at trial. The House has passed legislation in each of the last four Congresses banning partial-birth abortions. In the 104th and 105th Congresses, President Clinton vetoed the partial-birth abortion bans. Both times the House voted to override the veto, but the Senate sustained it. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this very important legislation. Thanks to President Bush, this Congress has an opportunity to finally ban the gruesome procedure without the threat of a presidential veto. By passing H.R. 760 today, we will take a giant step towards protecting innocent babies who, through no fault of their own, have their lives taken.