The bill only garnered support from 21 Democrats.  As someone who’s earned A+ ratings from pro-trade organizations and is member of the centrist New Democrat Coalition – a group that has supported trade more strongly than either political party – I was disappointed with the events that led to my decision to oppose this vote.

I fought hard to pass trade agreements for Africa and the Caribbean nations and for permanent normal trade relations with China because I believed it was in the nest interests of our country.  Reluctantly, I joined with many other pro-trade moderates who felt compelled to vote against the bill because, similarly, I felt it was the right thing to do under the circumstances.

While we’re strongly in favor of trade expansion, we also care about the millions of working Americans who have been hit hard by the Sep. 11 attacks and the economic downturn.  These two concerns put us in a unique position to try to bridge the gap between pro-trade and anti-trade forces, and to create a new national consensus for expanding both trade and the winner’s circle in America.

Granting Trade Promotion Authority to the president is a leap of faith.  Congress gives the White House guidelines in trade negotiations, the White House negotiates, and we have only the opportunity to approve or reject the agreement.

I want to make progress on improving worker standards and environmental protection overseas, and I think it’s important that we improve the quality of life for people living in developing countries.  After all, prosperity, and environmental concerns know no boundaries.  To grant the president Trade Promotion Authority is, in essence, placing my trust in his desire and ability to make progress on these goals.

Unfortunately, that trust has not yet been earned.  For the past year, and particularly since Sept. 11, the White House and the Republican leadership in Congress have said some of the right things, but have not demonstrated through action any kind of commitment to America’s workers.

Since the tragedies of Sept. 11, Congress has passed legislation to assist the airline industry and the insurance industry.  The so-called “economic stimulus” package passed by the House was simply more tax cuts, mostly to corporations, that added to the $1.7 billion tax cut signed into law earlier this summer.  In the days following Sep. 1, Republican leadership promised a vote on the House floor on a workers’ relief package.  Nothing happened.

On October 25, several of my pro-trade colleagues joined me in requesting that Congress pass a meaningful workers relief and a responsible stimulus package before Trade Promotion Authority.  These concerns were ignored.

Finally, 36 hours before the vote, House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas, R-Calif., laid out his proposals for worker relief.  We were told that these issues could not be addressed prior to the trade vote, but that we should trust the Republican leadership that they would be resolved soon.

Americans deserve more than empty promises, and for the thousands in my district laid off since Sept.11, political promises won’t help put food on the table or pay for health care for their families.

What’s more, enacting meaningful worker relief is critical toward building an American consensus on trade.  Before we can ask Americans to support trade agreements that will lower trade barriers and expand trade between nations, we need to make sure they know that will have the tools to compete and a safety net in the rapidly changing globalized economy.

I support granting Trade Promotion Authority to the President.  I support the trade negotiating guidelines outline in the Thomas bill, which includes recognition of labor and the environment as negotiating objectives and moves our trade policy in the right direction.  I know many of my colleagues agree with me, and would have supported Trade Promotion Authority if we could ensure that the critical worker relief issues that we and the American people care about would be addressed.