WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Clinton Administration moves several steps closer today to getting the votes they need to pass what some have called "the most important vote in decades"--granting permanent national trade relations (PNTR) to China. Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) announced today that he will vote "Yes" tomorrow when the House of Representatives votes on whether the US should grant PNTR to China. Members joining Reyes in his decision are Representatives Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), and Gregory Meeks (D-NY).

"This vote has required a comprehensive look at all of the issues surrounding the U.S. relationship with China, and I have looked at it within the prism of its impact on Texas, and specifically on El Paso," said Reyes. "My decision to support PNTR for China did not come easy. The greatest concern that I had was the effect a new trade deal would have on my district--on the hard working men and women in El Paso. I am a proponent of free trade and believe that free trade is good for our economy. However, the last time Congress voted to support an international trade agreement, my district suffered more than any other congressional district in the country. El Paso's economy is still recovering from the effects of the NAFTA agreement."

In the aftermath of NAFTA, Reyes worked with the Administration to have them address the detrimental impacts of trade on El Paso. El Paso received a $45 million worker retraining grant, an urban Empowerment Zone designation, the development of the Southwest Border Economic Initiative, an additional resources to repair the damage NAFTA has had on the roads in El Paso. While the Administration has worked with Reyes to try to minimize some of the burden El Paso has felt as a result of trade, more is still needed.

Reyes asked the administration to help El Paso's economy by moving forward with a decision on the Longhorn Partners Pipeline, a pipeline that will bring additional competition to a market that is in desperate need of lower gas prices. Reyes stated "Consumers in my district pay $1 million more each month for gas than people in the rest of the state. In an economy that is struggling with unemployment double the national average and more than 10,000 NAFTA dislocated workers, this is more than a big deal — it is a matter of having enough money to pay bills and buy groceries."

Reyes has received assurances that the Administration will move forward with an expeditious decision on the Longhorn Pipeline. "That is all that I've been asking for over the course of the last year. I have been frustrated that it has taken this long to get to the point where we can set a date for a decision and enforce that decision, but here we are. I did not ask the White House for a guarantee of a favorable decision — that would jeopardize the process. What I have been asking for is a decision, period. I believe that the Longhorn Pipeline has shown that it is safe and that the final decision from EPA, DOT, and DOJ will be favorable and will benefit the people of El Paso."

Despite the challenges El Paso has faced due to NAFTA, there are also many opportunities that trade has provided El Paso. International trade has meant a better quality of life for the residents of El Paso, primarily through higher paying jobs with greater benefits. In El Paso, approximately 165 manufacturers export on a regular basis, and many of these companies are small businesses. El Paso manufacturers, independent wholesalers and farmers exported an estimated $1.3 BILLION in 1998. Approximately 5,000 jobs are directly dependent on exports, amounting to eight percent of El Paso's total manufacturing, wholesaling and farming employment. U.S. Census statistics show that exports from the El Paso area totaled $5.8 BILLION in 1997.

Extending PNTR to China gives the U.S. access to 1.3 billion consumers eager for U.S.-made products. Granting PNTR, will provide enormous opportunities to expand trade for Texas companies and producers of commodities, as it will end most restrictions and slash tariffs, remove discriminatory taxes and regulations, and open China's retail, distribution, and marketing system. Through this vote, the United States will open China for entry into the World Trade Organization, subjecting China to the rules of international trade required of 144 other nation's around the world.

Moreover, as a member of the House Armed Service Committee, the Congressman stated, "It has been my position that to isolate an extremely large and populous nation like China, by failing to extend PNTR, would be a missed opportunity to bring them under the rule of law. The enormous expansion of U.S. trade with China through PNTR, will further the development of democratic ideals in China, as American standards of business, communication, and management become prevalent. This is a critical opportunity to influence China's human rights, environmental and labor standards, and relationships in the family of nations."

Congressman Silvestre Reyes' Remarks on PNTR

I have concluded after careful thought and a thorough review of the many issues surrounding our relations with China, that I will support the granting of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with the Peoples Republic of China.

This vote has required a comprehensive look at all of the issues surrounding the U.S. relationship with China, and I have looked at it within the prism of its impact on Texas, and specifically on El Paso.

My decision to support PNTR for China did not come easy. The greatest concern that I had was the effect a new trade deal would have on my district--on the hard working men and women in El Paso. I am a proponent of free trade and believe that free trade is good for our economy. However, the last time Congress voted to support an international trade agreement, my district suffered more than any other congressional district in the country. El Paso's economy is still recovering from the effects of the NAFTA agreement. However, we are recovering, and this recovery is due to the assistance and dedication of this administration.

I asked the administration to help my district, to help El Paso's economy, by moving forward with a decision on the Longhorn Partners Pipeline, a pipeline that will bring additional competition to a market that is in desperate need of lower gas prices. Consumers in my district pay $1 million more each month for gas than people in the rest of the state. In an economy that is struggling with unemployment double the national average and more than 10,000 NAFTA dislocated workers, this is more than a big deal — it is a matter of having enough money to pay bills and buy groceries.

I have received assurances that the Administration will move forward with a decision on the Longhorn Pipeline and will do so in an expeditious and fair manner. That is all that I've been asking for over the course of the last year. I have been frustrated that it has taken this long to get to the point where we can set a date for a decision and enforce that decision, but here we are. I did not ask the White House for a guarantee of a favorable decision — that would jeopardize the process. What I have been asking for is a decision, period. I believe that the Longhorn Pipeline has shown that it is safe and that the final decision from EPA, DOT, and DOJ will be favorable and will benefit the people of El Paso.

In the aftermath of NAFTA, I called upon the Administration to address these impacts which had detrimentally impacted El Paso. The Clinton administration has come to the aid of dislocated workers in El Paso with a $45 million worker retraining grant. El Paso was designated an Empowerment Zone and the Clinton administration has pushed hard for full funding of Empowerment Zones. This administration has also focused on the needs of the border with the development of the Southwest Border Economic Development Initiative which will target aid to the economically depressed areas of the Southwest Border. The Clinton administration has also recognized the devastating impact NAFTA has had on our roads and infrastructure in El Paso and has provided my district with additional resources to repair the damage.

With these trade adjustments and economic initiatives in place, it is my view that supporting PNTR at this time, is the right thing to do. It is clear that free trade has been good for our nation and good for our economy. Extending PNTR to China gives the U.S. access to 1.3 billion consumers eager for U.S.-made products. Granting PNTR will provide enormous opportunities to expand trade for Texas companies and producers of commodities, since it will end most restrictions and slash tariffs, remove discriminatory taxes and regulations, and open China's retail, distribution, and marketing system. Through this vote, the United States will open China for entry into the World Trade Organization, subjecting China to the rules of international trade required of 144 other nation's around the world.

Moreover, as a member of the House Armed Service Committee it has been my position that to isolate an extremely large and populous nation like China, by failing to extend PNTR, would be a missed opportunity to bring them under the rule of law. The enormous expansion of U.S. trade with China through PNTR, will further the development of democratic ideals in China, as American standards of business, communication, and management become prevalent. As many often say, "Democracy is contagious".

This is a critical opportunity to influence China's human rights, environmental and labor standards, and relationships in the family of nations. I have visited China, and having actually seen some of their factories and spoken with their workers, I have observed the potential benefits of American influence as a result of increased trade with China. And I will remain committed to monitoring the progress of China with regard to weapons proliferation, human rights, labor and environmental standards.

Within this context, after the difficult and tenuous agreements entered into between our trade representatives and the Chinese, I am convinced that now is the right time to vote "YES". This decision will benefit El Paso, benefit the state of Texas, and ultimately benefit the nation as a whole.

For more information please contact Yvette Pena at (202) 226-8335.