Emma

Senator Levenson and Senator Olson

 * Bill Topic: American Trade Policies**
 * 1st Session**
 * S.**

In the Senate
 * December 1, 2006**

Sponsored by Senator Emma Levenson of California and Senator Eleanor Olson of Washington

A BILL

1.//Be it enacted by the Members of the McG Model Congress// 2. //of the United States of America in Congress assembled//, 3. **Section 1. Title** 4 F.A.I.R. (For America, It’s Right) Trade Act of 2006 5. **Section 2. Findings** 6.In one week there were 1,371 instances of violation child labor laws in Wal-Mart; there were 60,767 missed breaks by workers and 15,705 missed meal times just in this one week. 7. In 2005, lawsuits against Wal-Mart have been made because of unfair pay and unfair work hours for Chinese workers. 8. In El Salvador, unfair conditions are being placed on children working for the Coca-Cola Company in America. 9. Wal-Mart has been fined 5 million dollars as a result of violating environmental agencies both in the state and federal areas in 2003 through 2005. 10. There are 250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 working in developing countries. 11. More than 4 in 5 children work without pay. 12. **Section 3. Purposes** 13 To improve world trade by creating better trade standards for American companies 14. To reduce trade with overseas companies that do not live up to America’s constitutional standards 15. **Section 4: Terms and Benefits** 16. Businesses in the United States shall not engage in trade with overseas companies that do not adhere to the policies of the Clean Air Act of 1990 17. Businesses in the United States shall not engage in trade with overseas companies that engage in paying less than the minimum wage in their country 18. Businesses in the United States shall not engage in trade with overseas companies that engage in oppressive child labor 19. Businesses in the United States shall not engage in trade with overseas companies that engage in sweatshop labor 20. Any American company that engages in the action or actions described above will be subject to a fine of no less than $1,200,000 dollars or imprisonment of the head executive for up to five years or both 21. **Section 5: Administration** 22. The US Department of Commerce will issue a program eliminating trade with companies that engage in the actions described in Sec. 4. 23. The program will take effect 10 years after the ratification of this bill.

PASSED IN THE SENATE!


 * Similar Bills Sumbitted to the House and Senate**

S. 3485: Go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and enter S. 3485 into the search box. Make sure you are searching by the bill number. The actual title is Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act


 * Resources:**

Transfair USA: http://www.transfairusa.org/

One Campaign: http://www.one.org/trade_justice (This has some an overview of how trade policy can be used to create greater human rights around the world.)

Public Agenda: http://www.publicagenda.org/issues/debate_detail2.cfm?issue_type=americas_global_role (check out the third option---that' s the perspective you're basically representing)