Kaptur Expresses Great Dismay at Members Being Shut Out From Only House Hearing on CAFTA
KAPTUR EXPRESSES GREAT DISMAY AT MEMBERS BEING SHUT OUT FROM ONLY HOUSE HEARING ON CAFTA
Apr 21, 2005
Appears at Hearing to Plead Case; Chairman Has Decided to Allow Member Testimony This Afternoon
WASHINGTON-Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) joined Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in the Ways and Means committee room before today's hearing on the Central America Trade Agreement (CAFTA) to express dismay that Members were not invited to testify, and the witness list excluded the usual Member panel that is customary, especially on topics of broad concern. Kaptur issued the following statement:
"We are dismayed that normal procedures are not being followed. When NAFTA was being proposed members were invited to testify, and I in fact testified twice in this very room. This is the only scheduled hearing by Ways and Means on expanding NAFTA to Central America. On behalf of the people we represent, we claim our rightful time to testify at today's hearing.
"At a time when more jobs are being shipped offshore and trade deficits are at record highs, we cannot stand idly by. Who could imagine a Congressional hearing on CAFTA being held without allowing Congressional testimony? What makes our testimony even more important is that "fast track" procedures that will govern how this bill moves to the floor means debate will be severely limited with no amendments allowed.
"The committee hearing agenda which excluded any Member testimony defies explanation and surely does not follow regular order. We would like to claim our rightful time."
In a last minute change, as the hearing began, Chairman William Thomas (R-CA) at the urging of Ranking Democratic Member Charles Rangel (D-NY), has decided to "accommodate the Members" and allow those wishing to testify for a "reasonable amount of time" in a panel after the set, structured panel later this afternoon.
http://www.kaptur.house.gov/PressRelease.aspx?NewsID=1377