United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
UNITED STATES-BAHRAIN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT -- (House of Representatives - December 07, 2005)
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Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Bahrain Free Trade Agreement. This agreement is good for the United States, and it is good for Bahrain. It has real trade benefits. But beyond that, it will strengthen relations with one of our most steadfast friends in the Middle East. Progress made on labor and economic reforms can stand as a model for future trade agreements with the Middle East.
The Ways and Means Committee's bipartisan approval of the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement is symbolic of the cooperative and supportive relationship that exists between the two countries. This agreement will bring benefits to both countries, strengthen economic ties, and promote social, political, and economic opportunities. The Bahrainis have taken difficult, but important, progressive steps that will elevate standards in Bahrain and help promote stability in the Middle East.
Bahrain has been a steadfast American ally through World War II, the gulf war, and the war on terrorism. Bahrain has implemented multiple substantive reforms over the past few years, including the adoption of a new constitution to transform the country from a hereditary emirate to a constitutional monarchy, the creation of a bicameral legislature, and granting suffrage to all citizens over 18 years of age. In addition, Bahrain has made significant improvements to its labor laws and has dismantled its Arab League boycott of Israel.
My friends, globalization is here. And as Tom Friedman indicated, yes, indeed, the world is flat. We have made sure that we are more interdependent upon one another; and it is good to be interdependent, because with that interdependence, we as a Nation begin to depend on others in this world. The world is much smaller than it was just 40 years ago. As we become dependent upon one another, raising the standards of living all over this world, we then indeed ensure a safer United States of America and a more harmonized world.
I say let us vote for this. It is good for America, it is good for Bahrain, and it is good for the Middle East.
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