Check to see if your member is on this list. These are the Members which the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and NAM will be targetting to pressure to vote YES on CAFTA.
Jim Schollaert
Director of Strategic Outreach
American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition
jschollaert@amtacdc.org
work phone: 202-452-0866, Extension 334
home phone: 703-524-7197
work fax: 202-452-0739

Washington Trade Daily
May 6, 2005


CAFTA to Top White House Agenda
The White House is putting Congressional approval of the US free trade agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic at the top of its political agenda next week and business supporters are stepping up efforts to win over undecided House members (WTD, 5/5/05).

With the visit next week of the Presidents of the six countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic – CAFTA is “about to become front and center on the political radar screen,� Assistant US Trade Representative Christopher Padilla said yesterday.

The Presidents are going to take the case for CAFTA directly to the American people in a whirlwind day-and-a-half tour of 10 US cities, followed by a White House meeting with President Bush.

The trade pact is facing a tough vote in the House due to the combined opposition of organized labor and US sugar and textile producers.

Speaking to The Latino Coalition yesterday, Mr. Padilla said CAFTA has become a “last stand� for protectionists. Congress “must decide whether America is going to protect its strategic interests or its special interests,� he said.

Dominican Republic Ambassador Flavio Dario Espinal told the gathering that the decision by a group of moderate Democrats to oppose CAFTA was “bad news.� He said supporters need to “re-group, take a deep breath, gain perspective and come back with stronger arguments.�

Targeting 60 House Members

Meanwhile, business supporters of CAFTA are targeting some 60 House members – both Democrat and Republican – they believe can be convinced to vote for the trade pact. Most of the members being targeted are either undecided or have not taken a position, although a few on the list have indicated they are leaning against voting for CAFTA and one – Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash) – formally announced his opposition Wednesday.

House members whipping for CAFTA told a business rally yesterday that Democrats will be crucial to approval of CAFTA in the House. Virginia Democrat Rep. Jim Moran – one of only three House Democrats who has publicly announced support for CAFTA – said that a “critical mass of two dozen Democrats� will be needed. He said three other Democrats have committed to vote for CAFTA, but do not yet want to declare their position publicly.

While a handful of Democrats are needed, Republican support must be maximized, said Rep. Ken Brady (R-Texas).

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns described the vote situation as having reached the “hand to hand combat stage.� He reiterated the benefits of CAFTA for US farmers and ranchers, who will see tariffs fall to zero almost immediately on many products. A “good vote� on CAFTA will also help keep the new momentum going in the World Trade Organization agriculture negotiations.

House Democrats being target by the business coalition are –



Brian Baird (Wash),Melissa Bean (Ill),Earl Blumenauer (Ore), Leonard Boswell (Iowa),Jim Cooper (Tenn),Jim Costa (Calif),Susan Davis (Calif), Lincoln Davis Tenn), Jim Davis (Fla), Chet Edwards (Texas), Anna Eshoo (Calif), Bob Etheridge (NC), Harold Ford (Tenn), Charlie Gonzalez (Texas), Ruben Hinojosa (Texas), Jay Inslee (Wash), Jim Matheson (Utah), Carolyn McCarthy (NY), Gregory Meeks (NY), Solomon Ortiz (Texas), Silvestre Reyes (Texas), Ike Skelton (Mo), Vic Snyder (Ark), John Tanner (Tenn) and Mike Thompson (Calif).




Republicans are –

Rodney Alexander (La), Robert Alderholt (Ala), Roscoe Bartlett (Md), Michael Bilirakis (Fla), Dave Camp (Mich), Howard Coble (NC), Phil English (Pa), Terry Everett (Ala), Michael Fitzpatrick (Pa), Virginia Foxx (NC), Trent Franks (Az), Mark Green (Wis), Gil Gutknecht (Minn), Bob Inglis (SC), William Jenkins (Tenn), Connie Mack (Fla), Thaddeus McCotter (Mich), John Mica (Fla), Jeff Miller (Fla), Jerry Moran (Kansas), Tim Murphy (Pa), Robert Ney (Ohio), Adam Putnam (Fla), Ralph Regula (Ohio), Harold Rogers (Ky), Mike Rogers (Ala), John Schwarz (Mich), Rob Simmons (Conn), Michael Sodrel (Ind), Tom Tancredo (Colo), Michael Turner (Ohio), Zach Wamp (Tenn), Frank Wolf (Va), J. Gresham Barrett (SC), Virginia Brown-Waite (Fla), Steve LaTourette (Ohio), John McHugh (NY) and James Walsh (NY).

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Secretary Johanns will participate in a briefing next week promoting the benefits of CAFTA for US agriculture.

Meanwhile, new US Trade Representative Rob Portman has promised North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) that he will address at least one textile industry concern. He told the senator in a letter that he will seek an amendment to CAFTA to ensure that non-visible pocketing and lining used in garments made in Central America must be either US origin or made in one of the CAFTA countries. Under the current language, the material can be sourced from anywhere in the world.