Bush Pressures Congress On Colombian Free-Trade Pact

WASHINGTON — President Bush stepped up pressure yesterday on Congress to approve a controversial free-trade pact with Colombia, saying the deal is "dead" unless the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, schedules a vote.

After a meeting with his Cabinet, Mr. Bush said it's not in America's interest to "stiff an ally" like Colombia.

Mr. Bush sent the agreement to Capitol Hill earlier this month, but the House, led by Democrats, decided to eliminate a rule forcing a vote on the deal within 60 legislative days. The House's decision probably kills consideration of the Colombia agreement this year, leaving it for the next administration.

"This free trade agreement is in our national interests," Mr. Bush said. "Yet that bill is dead unless the speaker schedules a definite vote. This was an unprecedented move. It's not in our country's interests that we stiff an ally like Colombia and that we don't encourage our goods and services to be sold overseas."