Robert Matsui

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute and to honor the memory of the late Thomas S. Chan of Sacramento, CA. As Mr. Chan is memorialized today he will be remembered by his many friends and family members as an intelligent businessman and dedicated community leader. Mr. Chan was a true Sacramentan. Born on July 17, 1919 he was raised in Sacramento and has always called Sacramento home. He graduated from Sacramento High School in 1937. In 1942, he met Mae Chuck and the two were wed in 1947. Tom Chan devoted much of energy into helping his family's produce business flourish. Begun by his father, Mr. Chan assumed management of General Produce Co. during the 1950s. Yet the produce business was not the only field in which Tom Chan excelled. He went on to establish himself as one of Sacramento's most innovative retailers and custom home developers. He was also an immensely talented furniture craftsman as well as an avid sportsman. General Produce Co., South Land Park Terrace, and Riverside Estates will endure as Thomas Chan's lasting legacy in Sacramento. But like his father, Tom also leaves behind a wonderful family, friends, and a community of people who are better for having known him. The Chan family will always hold a special place in my memories. When my family and I returned to Sacramento after the incarceration of Japanese Americans, we had few possessions, little money, and no income. Moreover, because of the internment, there was a presumption of guilt and a suspicion of Americans of Japanese ancestry throughout California. But amidst such indignities, there were families like the Chans who reached out to my family and others like us. My father, who was forced to give up his own produce business when the internment order came, was hired by Tom's father to work at General Produce, where he worked with and for Tom Chan for more than 30 years. There are scores of people and families who have been similarly influenced by Tom Chan and his family. It is they who will feel the great loss in our community and remember him as an admired leader. Mr. Speaker, as Thomas S. Chan is laid to rest today in Sacramento, I respectfully ask all of my colleagues to join me in commemorating his dual legacies as a successful businessman and beloved family figure. Our thoughts are with Mae Chan, Tom's four children, and two grandchildren during their most difficult time.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant). (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, before I yield back the balance of my time, to first commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane) for bringing this bill through the subcommittee, the full committee, and on to the floor of the House; and I want to also congratulate, of course, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Ewing) as well.

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry).

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 213. This resolution reflects the importance of agricultural to our Nation's economy, and the fact that the elimination of foreign restrictions to our agricultural exports must be a top priority in trade negotiations. American farmers are the most competitive suppliers in the world. They exported over $57 billion worth of agricultural goods last year, an increase of nearly one-third since 1992. Yet, old barriers and the continuing creation of new ones affecting agricultural trade are some of the most recognized problems U.S. exporters face. They are also among the most challenging for U.S. trade negotiators to resolve. Among the most important agricultural trade issues are the implementation of dispute settlement decisions under the WTO, elimination of export subsidies, achieving transparency in foreign regulatory policies, opening up foreign market access, and ensuring that our farmers can export goods produced with safe advanced techniques, such as biotechnology. The need to address these issues has become urgent in light of the impact of the financial crisis reducing demands for U.S. agricultural exports in Asia. These exports account for over 40 percent of our agricultural exports worldwide. The negotiations on agriculture scheduled to begin next year in the WTO, as well as negotiations in the APEC and for the Free Trade Area of the Americas, offer important opportunities to reduce and eliminate the various barriers to trade and agricultural goods. As noted in the resolution, disputes regarding market access under existing trade agreements involve the most difficult issues between the United States and our second largest agricultural export market, the European Union. Europe has not yet lifted its import ban on beef products with growth hormones, nor implemented changes in its banana import regime to comply with their obligations under the WTO. European regulations lack the sound scientific basis for impeding U.S. exports of livestock products and products grown with the benefit of biogenetics. We continue to have disputes over European subsidies for dairy, canned fruits, and there are numerous impediments for American wine exports. Madam Speaker, agricultural exports are critical to the future health of America's farms and our overall economy. Foreign government compliance with the existing trade agreement commitments and the opening of new market opportunities through trade negotiations are essential. I might just add that I am a supporter of the fast track legislation, although I have not been contacted formally by anyone on the other side of the aisle in terms of the intention of bringing this issue up in September of this year. The administration, as we know, supports fast track. They put a great effort into it last year. But since we are reopening the whole discussion on language on the whole issue of agriculture, which I think makes a lot of sense, we also ought to look at ``necessary and appropriate,'' that language, and we ought to look at labor and the environment as well. If we want to maximize our votes on both sides of the aisle, and right now I do not believe there are the votes to pass fast track, then we should renegotiate this and look at a realistic way, frankly, of trying to get a consensus. But if we all become stubborn, we stiffen our backs, we are going to face the same thing we did last November 14; that is, defeat of this legislation. We cannot afford to take this to the floor and defeat it. If that should happen, that would have more of a danger in terms of our leadership in the area of agriculture and also free trade, so it is my hope that both parties would begin to look at this in terms of trying to work a consensus, not trying to just push something through. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, last but not least, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) who will vote for this bill.

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to add that the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands has done a tremendous job on making sure the provisions she sought were in the legislation. We appreciate her efforts there. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), whose bill, H.R. 3375, to reduce duty temporarily on synthetic quartz substrates, is included in our legislation. And I want to congratulate him as well for his efforts to get this in there.

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4342, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1998, which I cosponsored with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane). This bill was favorably reported out of the Committee on Ways and Means on a voice vote. H.R. 4342 is a bipartisan bill. It consolidates 112 tariff and 11 trade bills introduced this Congress by Members on both sides of the aisle, as well as proposals from the administration and technical corrections to various trade statutes. Most of the provisions suspend duties temporarily on imports of specific products, such as drugs to fight AIDS and cancer for which there is no domestic production. These duty suspensions will reduce costs for imported raw material used in manufacturing products domestically. Other provisions correct errors or improve the operations of various customs or other trade laws. The bill allows the duty-free entry of equipment and personal effects for participants in the 1999 Special Olympics, the Women's World Cup, and the 2002 Winter Olympics. In addition, H.R. 4342 will bring U.S. law into conformity with an international agreement on duty-free importation of large scientific instruments. This package of tariff and trade bills has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated by all interested parties to ensure that none of the provisions are controversial. The committee solicited comments from the private sector, the views of the U.S. Customs Service, the Department of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative and, of course, the International Trade Commission. These agencies' review ensures that no domestic producers or other private sector interests will be adversely affected. Only provisions which were determined by the CBO to be revenue neutral were included in the bill. H.R. 4342 will improve the cost competitiveness of domestic companies by removing tariffs which have no protective effect on inputs they need for manufacturing, and will reduce costs for consumers of important drugs. Madam Speaker, I would like to again commend the gentleman from Illinois for shepherding this bill through the subcommittee, the full committee, and now on the floor of the House. I urge my colleagues to vote for 4342. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Christian-Green). H.R. 4342 includes a bill she introduced, which was H.R. 2498, to extend the production incentive certificate program to fine jewelry produced in the insular possessions.

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), a Vietnam veteran, the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra), a member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. McCarthy). (Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Berman).

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), a distinguished Member who has been very active in the area of trade. (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Boucher), a leader in the area of religious freedom in Vietnam. (Mr. BOUCHER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes). (Mr. REYES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 1\1/2\ minutes. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to House Joint Resolution 120 and in support of continuing to normalize relations with Vietnam. This policy will promote American interests in receiving a greater accounting of our POWs, MIAs, promoting values of democracy and human rights, as well as helping American workers. It is important to be clear about what extending Jackson-Vanik waivers will do and what it will not do. Today's vote is not about ``for or against'' normal trade relations for Vietnam; only when Vietnam concludes a bilateral agreement on trade approved by the Congress will it be eligible for normal trade relations. Renewal of the waiver is the most recent step in the gradual normalization of the relationship with Vietnam in the postwar era. I understand and appreciate the frustrations of the families seeking a greater accounting of POWs and MIAs by the Vietnamese government. We are all firmly committed to this goal. We will continue to make that clear to the Vietnamese government. However, the U.S. policy of incremental normalization has gone hand-in-hand with continued cooperation on this very, very important issue of accounting of POWs and MIAs. Vietnam does in fact fall short of our standard of human rights and political and religious freedoms. However, their continued exposure to U.S. values on human and religious freedoms will promote progress in Vietnam on these objectives that we all share. I disagree with those who argue that revocation of the waiver is an effective means to achieve further progress. Our former colleague and prisoner of war, Ambassador Pete Peterson, has noted that improvements in our relations have only been made since we have engaged the Vietnamese. In addition, many of my colleagues who have served in Vietnam support extending the waiver: Senator John McCain, Senator John Kerry, Senator Bob Kerrey, the gentleman from Illinois Mr. Lane Evans, Representative Jack Murtha, to name a few. I urge a no vote on this resolution.

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Clement).

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie). (Mr. ABERCROMBIE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley). (Mr. DOOLEY of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. MATSUI

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm). (Mr. STENHOLM asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton), the former chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the ranking member of the Committee on International Relations.