| House Legislative Update
July 29, 2003 Citizens Lobby Scott A. Lauf, Executive Director Washington, D.C. Last week the House of Representatives approved the disastrous Chile and Singapore Free Trade Agreements (H.R. 2378 & H.R. 2379) by votes of 270-156 and 272-155, respectively. 27 Republicans -- including principled conservatives like Reps. Ron Paul (R-TX), Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Charlie Norwood (R-GA) -- voted "NO." The legislation now moves on to the Senate where passage is likely. Both bills will allow corporations to have unlimited numbers of L-1 visa workers, thus displacing U.S. citizens from their own jobs. Despite the uphill battle, Citizens Lobby will continue to fight these trade bills in the Senate, and we'll keep you posted when a full floor vote takes place... The House also approved the $17 billion foreign aid bill (H.R. 2800) by 370-50. Only 45 Republicans and 5 Democrats voted against this wasteful boondoggle of taxpayers' money. The legislation now moves on to the Senate. We'll keep you posted as well on this bill's status. The House is now adjourned for its August recess and will reconvene first week of September to finalize remaining '04 appropriations bills.
|