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Stop Fast Track - Coalition Letter July 27, 2001 American Lands Alliance * Center for International Environmental Law * Defenders of Wildlife * Earthjustice * Environmental Defense * Friends of the Earth * Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy * League of Conservation Voters * Natural Resources Defense Council * Pacific Environment * Sierra Club Dear Representative: On behalf of our organizations' millions of members, we urge you to oppose the Crane (R-IL) fast track trade bill, H.R. 2149, and all similar bills, including the Graham-Murkowski bill introduced in the Senate, S.1104. Both of these bills ignore environmental concerns and are simply not adequate to address the increasingly complex trade issues facing the United States today. We urge you to reject these bills, and any fast track legislation that allows the negotiation of trade deals that would undermine protection of the United States' environment. Any such trade legislation must ensure that trade agreements should support, not undermine, environmental protection. Trade rules should not directly challenge environmental laws and regulations; instead, they should encourage environmental progress and require democratic principles. For example, Congress should not grant fast track that allows the Administration to negotiate trade agreements containing foreign investor suit provisions that can be used to weaken our ability to maintain strong environmental laws. These provisions serve as "regulatory takings" provisions for the benefit of companies, often at the expense of U.S. interests. No fast track should permit investor suit provisions granting foreign investors rights greater than under U.S. law and allowing them to undermine environmental protection. Finally, the current Administration has made it clear that it does not believe that environmental issues should be made a mandatory part of trade negotiation, rather that environmental issues should be dealt with elsewhere. Unfortunately, the Administration's track record on other international environmental agreements is very poor, as its rejection of the international global warming agreement demonstrates to the world. Again, please oppose H.R. 2149 and S. 1104 and all similar bills that fail to seriously address environmental concerns. Sincerely, Jason Tockman Director International Trade Program American Lands Alliance David Hunter Executive Director Center for International Environmental Law Robert Dewey Vice President of Government Relations Defenders of Wildlife Martin Hayden Legislative Director Earthjustice Elizabeth Thompson Legislative Director Environmental Defense Sara Zdeb Legislative Representative Friends of the Earth Mark Ritchie President Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Mary Minette Legislative Director League of Conservation Voters Alyssondra Campaigne Legislative Director Natural Resources Defense Council Doug Norlen Policy Director Pacific Environment Debbie Sease Legislative Director Sierra Club Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club