COBLE, SPRATT TO CONDUCT MEETING ON CAFTA

Washington, May 23

As the House draws closer to a vote on a controversial trade pact, the chairmen of the House Congressional Textile Caucus plan to conduct an informational briefing tomorrow for members of Congress regarding the issue of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). U.S. Reps. Howard Coble (R-NC) and John Spratt (D-SC), the co-leaders of the informal textile group, will lead the meeting on Tuesday, May 24, 2005, from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. in Room 2237 in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill.

Congressman Coble said the goal of the meeting is to present all sides of the CAFTA debate in a fair and balanced manner for members of the Textile Caucus and any other interested members and their staffs. “We will have an equal number of supporters and opponents of CAFTA participating in the informational briefing,” Rep. Coble noted, “so we can have an open and candid discussion on all aspects on this important legislation. I am looking forward to a lively conversation.”

Following opening remarks by Reps. Coble and Spratt, members of six different organizations – three in favor and three opposed to CAFTA – will each deliver five-minute presentations. The remainder of the allotted time will be left open for a question-and-answer session among the panelists and attendees at the meeting.

Participating in the informational briefing will be three supporters of CAFTA: David Spooner, of the U.S. Trade Representative Office, on behalf of the Bush Administration; Keith Crisco, for the American Apparel & Footwear Association; and Cass Johnson of the National Council of Textile Organizations. Opponents of CAFTA who will participate include: Mark Levinson of the labor union UNITEHERE; Auggie Tantillo with the American Manufacturing Trade Action Council; and Karl Spilhaus on behalf of the National Textile Association.

The briefing will be open to the media, but the question-and-answer period will be for members of Congress and their staffs only. Media may conduct interviews with any willing panelists and members of Congress at the conclusion of the meeting. Still and video cameras will be permitted also.