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Here are some remarks by Sen. Hollings, in a debate on AIR TRAVEL RIGHTS FOR BLIND INDIVIDUALS ACT (Senate - June 08, 1990). These comments are in the thomas database at thomas.loc.gov. He recognized that "free trade" could be used to diminish the economy of the Untied States. Its also interesting that he links "free trade" and the trilateral commission. He remarks that the textile industry was the most productive and competitive industry in the US. Is is coincidence that CAFTA will be the nail in the coffin of this prodcutive, competitive industry? Its taken years, but according to Senator Hollings, the goal has been accomplished:

They are conspiring up in New York right now, while I am talking, on trade to keep up the affirmative action program to dump foreign goods. How did that happen? We had the Marshall Plan. Thank heavens it worked. The Pacific rim went capitalistic, all those countries out there, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia. It worked. In the EEC capitalism and democracy are working, but it took our American national productivity, Yankee traders, and geniuses to go over and not only give them the technology, develop the technology and produce the technology, financing those endeavors. They were not bothered by us Senators with all our bills mandating clean air, clean water, unemployment insurance, minimum wage, safe working place, safer machinery, parental notice, plant closing notice, and right on down the list.

They say, `We do not have to worry about those Senators, what regulations they are going to enact. We have a guaranteed profit overseas here and we can dump it back in America. All we have to do is cry, free trade, free trade to the dummy politicians.'So they organized the Trilateral Commission . They organized ECAT, the Emergency Committee Against Tariffs. They organized the Foreign Policy Association, and they preen and wax, erudite and holler, `Free trade, free trade, free trade.' And what they are really saying is, `Dump it, dump it, dump it,' as long as they can keep the largest richest market in the world open for dumping. Bear in mind that 40 percent of imports are U.S.-generated from U.S.-owned multinationals. So they say, `As long as we can maintain this conspiracy to dump, we will all make a fortune.'

They had a witness day before yesterday to the effect that there are 10 million in China in gulags, slave laborers producing textiles. That was testimony before the Foreign Relations Committee.

Do you know what is the most productive competitive industry in America? Milliken last year won the Baldrige Award. According to the Office of Technology Assessment, in its study just reported, the most productive competitive industry in America is textiles. Like the man said years ago, `Fritz, I can compete with any company in Japan; I just cannot compete with the entire country of Japan.' All of these countries have their governments on their side. The EEC is organizing and orchestrating their governments for EEC 1992, not to get free trade, but to gird themselves for the trade war in the Pacific Rim. You watch them.

Another bit of info. This stellar performer was a member of the Brookings Institute, the Rand Corporation and the Trilateral commission.

The same year, Carla Hills was named US Trade Representative. She is described in Congressional testimony as a member of the Trilateral Commission. Given that the Trilateral Commision was formed to promote "free trade" or dumping as Senator Hollings claimed, what influence do you think Ms. Hills had on our trade policy, that might have favored Trilateral Commission goals?

Here is the congressional record:

Mr. BENTSEN addressed the Chair.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The chairman of the Finance Committee.

Mr. BENTSEN. Madam President, I have the pleasure of rising to support the nomination of Carla Hill as U.S. Trade Representative. The Finance Committee favorably reported her nomination by a unanimous vote on January 27th.

In addition, she has been chairman of the Urban Institute since 1983 and is a member of the Executive Committee of the American Agenda, cochaired by Presidents Ford and Carter. She has also served as Vice Chairman of President Reagan's Commission on Housing and as a member of President Reagan's Commission on Defense Management. Previously, she served as a trustee of the Brookings Institution, the Rand Corp. and as a member of the Trilateral Commission .

Once confirmed as USTR, Mrs. Hills will have the challenging job of representing the interests of the United States in negotiations in the international trade arena and will be instrumental in shaping our trade policy. With an estimated trade deficit of $135 billion for 1988, Mrs. Hills certainly has her work cut out for her. However, she will be, without a doubt, a tough negotiator and represent the United States well.