Berman to Speak at Chamber Lunch

Rep. Howard Berman (D-Mission Hills) will address the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon meeting Wednesday.

Berman, who visits the chamber annually, will present his outlook for the coming congressional session and his support for President Clinton’s failed bid to renew presidential “fast-track” trade authority, officials said.

Fast-track authority would allow the president to negotiate broad trade agreements over which Congress has a simple yes-or-no vote. Until this year, Congress had granted such authority to every president since Gerald Ford in 1974. However, lack of congressional support caused Clinton to postpone a House vote on the matter in November for the second time this session.

Although the majority of Democrats opposed Clinton on the fast-track issue, Berman remained in the president’s fold.

“It is clear that our economic prosperity at home is closely tied to our active participation--and indeed, leadership--in the global economy,” Berman said in a written statement. “The United States cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while the rest of the world hammers out new trade pacts.”

Scott Schmidt, the chamber’s program manager, said the organization has decided not to take a formal position on fast-track trade authority.

“We were unsure about what impact it might have on San Fernando,” Schmidt said. “We’re hoping that Berman will give us a better idea of how it will affect us locally.”

Wednesday’s meeting will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Odyssey restaurant, 15600 Odyssey Drive in Granada Hills. The cost is $16. For more information, call the chamber at (818) 361-1184.