Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
CONTINUE THIS BEYOND THREE
YEARS SO IT'S NOT HAVING TO BE
LINKED TO OTHER TRADE
AGREEMENTS BUT I THINK OUR
COMMITTEE HAS SOME WORK TO DO
PROGRAM.
TO IMPROVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT IT AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
I WOULD RESERVE.
I WOULD JUST SAY I HAVE NO
OTHER SPEAKERS SO I'M PREPARED
TO CLOSE SO I'LL RESERVE AT
THIS TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON, MR.
SMITH.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE WAYS AND
EXCELLENT WORK ON THE TRADE
MEANS COMMITTEE FOR THEIR
AGREEMENTS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
ON TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.
I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS WITH
THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE
FROM WISCONSIN.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS T.A.A. AND
THE TRADE AGREEMENTS THEMSELVES
ARE PART OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO
HELP AMERICAN WORKERS AND THE
AMERICAN ECONOMY COMPETE IN A
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT GLOBAL
ECONOMIC SITUATION.
THE AMOUNT OF SKILLS THAT OUR
WORKERS NEED NOW ARE VASTLY
BEYOND WHAT THEY NEEDED IN
PREVIOUS GENERATIONS AND THE
NEED TO UPDATE THIS CONSTANTLY
ORDER TO BE COMPETITIVE AND
CONTINUE TO BE EMPLOYABLE ARE A
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FOR
AMERICAN WORKERS AND THIS
PROGRAM IS ONE WAY TO GIVE THEM
HELP, TO HELP GET THEM THE
TRAINING AND SKILLS THAT THEY
EMPLOYABLE.
NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE
AND IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
-- THE NUMBER OF WORKERS WHO
HAVE BENEFITED FROM THESE
COUNTRIES, BUT I ALSO SUBMIT TO
YOU THAT IT'S CRITICAL FOR OUR
ECONOMY.
OUR ECONOMY NEEDS A SKILLED
WORK FORCE AND ABLED IN ORDER
TO COMPETE.
TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE IS
ONE WAY TO HELP OUR WORKERS GET
THE SKILLS THEY NEED.
CERTAINLY IT HELPS THEM BUT IT
ALSO HELPS OUR BUSINESSES AND
THE OVERALL ECONOMY.
I AND MY COLLEAGUE FROM
WISCONSIN, I SUPPORT ALL THREE
TRADE AGREEMENTS.
I BELIEVE TRADE IS IMPORTANT TO
GROWING OUR ECONOMY AS WELL AND
IT'S SIMPLE MATH.
95% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD
LIVE SOMEPLACE OTHER THAN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BUT
THE UNITED STATES IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR 20% OF THE
WORLD'S CONSUMPTION.
IF WE ARE GOING TO GROW WE NEED
ACCESS.
KOREA, COLOMBIA AND PANAMA IS
GOOD STEPS IN THAT DIRECTION SO
THAT OUR BUSINESSES CAN HAVE
THE POSSIBILITY OF GROWING
THEIR BUSINESSES AND TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THE GROWING
ECONOMY.
IT HAS BEEN ASIA AND OTHER
GROWING THE MOST.
PARTS OF THE WORLD THAT ARE
WE NEED ACCESS TO THOSE
MARKETS.
TRADE AGREEMENTS LIKE THIS GIVE
US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
BUT AS I HAVE SAID FOR THE
ENTIRE 15 YEARS I HAVE BEEN IN
CONGRESS, THAT ALONE IS NOT
SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT AMERICAN
WORKERS AND OUR ECONOMY.
ACCESS TO OVERSEAS MARKETS ON
ITS OWN ISN'T ENOUGH TO TAKE
CARE OF OUR WORKERS AS THEY
SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF.
THEY NEED TRAINING AND WE NEED
THE ENFORCEABLE -- CAN I HAVE
AN ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS?
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY
MORE TIME, JIM.
IF THE GENTLEMAN
WOULD LIKE AN ADDITIONAL
MINUTE, GO AHEAD.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
FOR THE FIRST -- NOT
THE FIRST TIME.
ACTUALLY WE DID IT IN PERU.
THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR.
LEVIN AND MR. RANGEL AND
OTHERS, WE HAVE ENFORCEABLE
WORKERS RIGHTS IN ALL THREE OF
THESE AGREEMENT.
THERE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIABLE
CRITICISMS, FOR INSTANCE, IN
COLOMBIA FOR WORKERS TO
COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN.
BUT THIS AGREEMENT WILL GIVE US
THE ENFORCEABILITY ABILITY TO
DO.
IF COLOMBIA AND ANY ONE OF
THESE COUNTRIES DON'T LIVE UP
TO THE STANDARDS AND
REQUIREMENTS, THIS AGREEMENT
NOW GIVES US THE ABILITY TO USE
TRADE SANCTIONS TO MAKE SURE
THEY DO.
THAT IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
STEP FORWARD TO PROTECT THE
WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER.
ACCESS TO OVERSEAS MARKETS
THROUGH TRADE AGREEMENTS AND
ADEQUATE PROTECTIONS FOR OUR
WORKERS SO THEY CAN COMPETE IN
THAT ENVIRONMENT, WITH T.S.A.,
I BELIEVE THAT ALL THREE TRADE
AGREEMENTS AND THIS T.A.A. BILL
WILL DO THIS.
I THANK THE WAYS AND MEANS IN
MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN
RESERVE.
CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD FOUR MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN, MR.
LEVIN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN'S
RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES.
LEVIN LETCH I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED,
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I RISE IN STRONG
BILL.
SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL, THIS
IT RESTARTS T.A.A. AND THE
G.S.P. PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, THIS SHOULD HAVE
HAPPENED LONG AGO.
THE REPUBLICAN DECISION TO LET
IT LAPSE WAS OVER EIGHT MONTHS
AGO WAS VERY WRONG AND AS A
RESULT, AND WE'RE NOT SURE OF
THE EXACT NUMBERS BECAUSE THAT
ISN'T PUBLIC, BUT HUNDREDS OF
SERVICE WORKERS WHO WERE
COMPLETELY SHUT OUT, FEWER
MANUFACTURING WORKERS BECAME
ELIGIBLE AND THOSE WHO DID
T.A.A. RECEIVED
LESS ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.
SO NOW WE ARE TAKING ACTION
THAT'S LONG OVERDUE.
I HEARD FROM SOMEONE THAT THE
TRADE AGREEMENTS ARE BEING HELD
HOSTAGE BECAUSE OF THE T.A.A.
PROGRAM.
THEY GOT IT 180 DEGREES WRONG.
IT WAS THE T.A.A. PROGRAM THAT
WAS BEING HELD HOSTAGE TO TRADE
FWREMENTS AND THAT NEVER SHOULD
HAVE HAPPENED.
-- AGREEMENTS AND THAT NEVER
SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
WELL, NOW WE CAN ACT, AND I
JUST WANT TO SAY SOME PEOPLE
LOOK UPON T.A.A. AS KIND OF THE
TEASPOON OF SUGAR TO MAKE THE
TRADE AGREEMENTS GO DOWN.
THAT COULD NOT BE MORE
INCORRECT.
WHAT T.A.A. DOES IS TO HELP
ARE THROWN OUT OF
WORK BECAUSE OF TRADE.
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
COMPETITIVE WORK FORCE, PEOPLE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE RETRAINED
, AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IF
YOU GO TO ANY PLACE WHERE
T.A.A. OPERATES YOU SEE A WIDE
VARIETY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BECOME ELIGIBLE AND WHO ARE
BEING HELPED.
SO I VERY, VERY MUCH SUPPORT
THIS BILL WHICH PREFERS --
WHICH PRESERVES THE INTEGRITY,
THOUGH NOT ALL OF THE T.A.A.
PROGRAM, AND THE 2009 REPORTS.
AND I CLOSE BY SAYING I ALSO
SUPPORT THE G.S.P. PROVISIONS
IN THIS BILL.
I THINK THERE'S A
MISCONCEPTION.
IT DOES HELP INDEED DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES WHO RELY ON THE
G.S.P., BUT AS OUR RANKING
KNOWS FROM ALL OF HIS
WORK, IT ALSO BENEFITS AMERICAN
COMPANIES AND THE WORKERS THEY
EMPLOY.
IN FACT, THE MAJORITY OF G.S.P.
IMPORTS ARE INPUTS USED TO
SUPPORT U.S. MANUFACTURING,
INCLUDING RAW MATERIALS, PARTS
AND COMPONENTS AND MACHINERY
AND EQUIPMENT.
SO NOT ONLY DID FAILING TO
EXTEND G.S.P. HURT DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES, IT HURT AMERICAN
BUSINESSES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES.
A WIDE SPECTRUM SUPPORTS THIS
BILL, AND I HOPE ALL OF US ON
THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE WILL
VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
CONTINUES TO RESERVE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN
I BELIEVE THE
GENTLEMAN HAS YIELDED BACK THE
BALANCE OF THEIR TIME?
NO.
THEN I'LL CONTINUE TO
RESERVE.
THE
1/2 MINUTES REMAINING.
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON HAS 5
HOW MUCH TIME DO
I HAVE?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON HAS 5
1/2 MINUTES REMAINING AND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN HAS 13
1/2 MINUTES.
MADAM SPEAKER
AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, I
THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE'RE PASSING THIS T.A.A.
TODAY.
BUT IT IS JUST THE TIP OF THE
ICEBERG OF THE PROBLEMS FACED
BY WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY.
I THINK THAT THE -- WE ARE
PICKING ONE GROUP AND SAYING,
WELL, IF YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR
HAVING LOST YOUR JOB BECAUSE OF
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADJUSTMENT
AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER YOU'RE
ELIGIBLE FOR SOME BENEFITS, BUT
I THINK THAT IN THE MUCH LARGER
PROBLEM.
SENSE THE HOUSE FACES A
WE'RE SEEING IT IN THE STREETS.
STREET.
WE'RE SEEING IT DOWN WALL
PLAZA.
WE'RE SEEING IT ON MY CENTRAL
WE'RE SEEING IT HERE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
WE'RE SEEING IT IN ATLANTA.
THE WORKERS OF THIS COUNTRY ARE
VERY UPSET, AND THERE IS A LONG
AGENDA THAT'S SORT OF DEALT
WITH HERE FOR ONE SMALL GROUP
OF WORKERS THAT OUGHT TO BE
AVAILABLE FOR ALL WORKERS.
NOW, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AT
THE END OF THIS YEAR UNLESS
LIKE LAST YEAR AT CHRISTMAS
TIME WE'LL BE SAYING TO PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW WHAT, WE DON'T CARE
ABOUT YOU, YOU'RE DONE, BECAUSE
WE DON'T HAVE ANY -- WE HAVEN'T
EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
NOW.
WE OUGHT TO BE DOING IT RIGHT
IT WILL BE CAUGHT IN THE CRUSH
OF ALL OF WHAT HAPPENS AT THE
END OF THE YEAR BUT IT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN.
FORECLOSURE RELIEF.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE
FORECLOSURES IN THIS COUNTRY
WITH NO WAY OUT FOR THE WORKERS
OF THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING
THESE -- WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING
FOR FORECLOSURE PROBLEMS FOR
SOMEBODY WHO'S LOST THEIR JOB
BECAUSE OF TRADE.
WE MAKE NO ADJUSTMENT.
WE DON'T SAY YOU CAN LOWER THE
AMOUNT OF YOUR LOAN OR THE
BANKS MUST NEGOTIATE.
WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH
FORECLOSURES IN THIS COUNTRY.
HEALTH CARE.
HEALTH CARE IN THIS BILL DOES A
-- IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR
PEOPLE TO GET HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE, BUT THERE ARE
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF WORKERS, 14
MILLION OF THEM, WALKING AROUND
IN THIS COUNTRY WITH NO HEALTH
CARE, AND WE ARE NOT REALLY --
WE'VE DONE NOTHING THIS SESSION
TO IMPLEMENT THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT.
. THERE IS ONE LAST ISSUE THAT
NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT.
WHAT HAPPENS TO A WORKER WHO WHO
TRAINING OR NOT, EXHAUSTS ALL
THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND
THEY HAVE A FAMILY AND THEY HAVE
A HOUSE?
NOW, IN THE 1930'S, WHAT PEOPLE
DID IS BACK THE CAR UP TO THE
HOUSE, PUT THE FORTUNATE TUR ON
TOP AND DRIVE OFF AND GET A JOB
IN CALIFORNIA.
YOU HAVE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
TODAY WHO ARE TIED TO A HOUSE IN
OR TOLEDO, OHIO
OR A THOUSAND PLACES AND CAN'T
DRIVE OFF TO FLORIDA AND GET A
JOB OR TO CALIFORNIA.
THEY'RE STUCK.
AND SO THEY FIND THEMSELVES WITH
NO ACCESS TO ANY KIND OF WAY TO
PAY THEIR MORTGAGE.
FORECLOSED.
THEY ARE GOING TO GET
AND THEN THEY CAN LEAVE, OF
COURSE, OR WE HAVE TO FIND SOME
WAY TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR
WORKERS IN THIS ECONOMY AS IT
RECOVERS TO SOMEHOW GET BY.
IF WE DON'T CARE -- IF WE JUST
CARE ABOUT THE WORKERS WHO ARE
LOST BECAUSE OF TRADE, THAT'S
NICE, AND WE OUGHT TO DO THAT.
WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
BUT WE OUGHT TO BE THINKING MUCH
BROADER THAN THAT IF WE'RE
SERIOUS ABOUT COMING OUT OF THIS
PROBLEMS WE'VE GOT IN THIS
ECONOMY AT THIS POINT.
I URGE EVERYONE TO VOTE FOR THIS
BILL AND BEGIN THE DRUM BEAT FOR
THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
EXTENSION AND A COUPLE OF OTHER
THINGS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
I YIELD MYSELF THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
SUPPORT H.R. 2832, THE BILL
WHICH RENEWS THE GENERAL SYSTEM
OF PREFERENCES AND ALSO CONTAINS
THE TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
CALLED T.A.A.
THIS BILL REALLY IS THE
CORNERSTONE OF THE CAREFULLY
CRAFTED, BIPARTISAN AND
BICAMERAL AGREEMENT THAT THEN
PROMPTED THE PRESIDENT TO SEND
THE THREE TRADE AGREEMENTS TO
THE CONGRESS LAST MONDAY.
THIS HAS ALLOWED US, THIS
LEGISLATION HAS ALLOWED US TO
MOVE FORWARD ON A LONG STALLED
TRADE AGENDA.
THE BILL RENEWS G.S.P., WHICH
THE HOUSE PASSED LAST MONTH AND
THAT IS THE LARGEST TRADE
PREFERENCE PROGRAM WHICH IS
ESTIMATED TO ACCOUNT FOR OVER
82,000 U.S. JOBS THAT ARE
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RELATED
TO THAT PROGRAM.
THIS BILL,
THE BILL THAT RE-AUTHORIZES
TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE IS
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, BECAUSE IT
IS ONE OF THE CORE ITEMS THAT
HAS ALLOWED THESE TRADE
AGREEMENTS TO COME FORWARD.
AND THIS LEGISLATION REALLY DOES
ENSURE SMALLER GOVERNMENT AND
LESS SPENDING ON AN IMPORTANT
PROGRAM IN THESE DIFFICULT
ECONOMIC TIMES WHERE WE HAVE A
GROWING DEBT AND DEFICIT.
THIS PROGRAM WAS STREAMLINED AND
SCALED BACK AND I WILL NOTE SOME
OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
THERE IS NO T.A.A. FOR PUBLIC
SECTOR WORKERS.
THE NUMBER OF WEEKS WAS REDUCED
FROM 156 IN THE 2009 LAW DOWN TO
117 WEEKS.
ALSO THERE IS NO DOUBLE-DIPPING.
THESE BENEFITS RUN CONCURRENTLY
WITH CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS AND THE HEALTH CARE
SUBSIDY WAS REDUCED IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
HALF OF THE
ALLOWABLE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE
PROGRAM'S TRAINING WAIVERS TO
ENSURE THAT THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR
T.A.A. ARE IN THOSE TRAINING
PROGRAMS WITH ONLY LIMITED
EXCEPTIONS.
AND WE ALSO CONSOLIDATED AND
REDUCED THE EXPENDITURES AND
REDUCED IT FOR FIRMS AND
ENHANCED PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
NO WORKER WILL QUALIFY FOR THIS
UNLESS CERTIFIED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ATTEMPT
TO BRING SOME REFORM AND
INTEGRITY TO OUR UNEMPLOYMENT
PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY BY
STRENGTHENING THE JOB TRAINING
PROVISIONS WHERE 80% OF THE
WAIVERS WERE USED TO WAIVE
PEOPLE OUT OF THE REQUIREMENT
THAT THEY JOB TRAIN.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT REFORM AND
GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT REFORM
IN THIS BILL TO MAKE SURE WE
IMPLEMENT IT SO AS WE MOVE
FORWARD ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE DEBATE AS THE
WASHINGTON STATE
ALLUDED TO, WE HAVE A TRACK
RECORD ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS
AND CAN SEE HOW THEY ARE
BEGINNING TO WORK.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
NOT ONLY THREE TRADE AGREEMENTS,
BUT ALSO WHAT REALLY WAS THE
CORNERSTONE FOR BRINGING THE
THREE TRADE AGREEMENTS TO THE
FLOOR, H.R. 2832, AND I YIELD
BACK.
THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
AND ALL TIME FOR DEBATE HAS
EXPIRED.
425.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS
ORDERED.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION
THAT THE HOUSE CONCUR IN THE
SENATE AMENDMENT.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
AYES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I ASK FOR THE
YEAS AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE IN FAVOR WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20
AND THE ORDER OF HOUSE TODAY,
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION ARE POSTPONED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1-C OF RULE
19, FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF
H.R. 3078 WILL NOW RESUME AND
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE.
UNION CALENDAR NUMBER
156, H.R. 3078, A BILL FOR THE
COLOMBIAN TRADE AGREEMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION TO
RECOMMIT AT THE DESK.
IS THE
GENTLEMAN OPPOSED TO THE BILL?
I AM.
THE
GENTLEMAN QUALIFIES.
MOTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE
MR. LEVIN OF MICHIGAN
MOVES TO RECOMMIT THE PEOPLE
H.R. 3078 TO THE COMMITTEE ON
WAYS AND MEANS AND REPORT BACK
AMENDMENTS.
TO THE HOUSE WITH THE FOLLOWING
AT THE END OF THE BILL, ADD THE
FOLLOWING, TITLE 7, CURRENCY
REFORM FOR FAIR TRADE ACT.
SECTION 701, SHORT TITLE.
THIS TITLE MAY BE CITED AS THE
CURRENCY REFORM FOR FAIR TRADE
ACT.
SECTION 702, CLARIFICATION FOR
DEFINITION OF COUNTERAVAILABLE
SUBSIDY, A, BENEFIT CONCURRED,
SECTION --
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE READING BE
DISPENSED WITH AND I RESERVE A
POINT OF ORDER.
IS
THERE OBJECTION?
IF NOT, WITHOUT OBJECTION,
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES AND
THE POINT OF ORDER IS RESERVED.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
I YIELD MYSELF THREE
MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN MAY NOT YIELD BLOCKS
OF TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WHAT
THIS IS.
THIS IS A BILL ON CURRENCY.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE TO ONCE AGAIN STAND UP
BE COUNTED.
THIS IS THE BILL THAT PASSED
LAST YEAR 349 TO 79, WITH 99
REPUBLICANS SUPPORTING IT.
THIS IS THE HOUSE BILL THAT HAS
225 CO-SPONSORS, MORE THAN 60
REPUBLICANS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEAR, CHINA'S
CURRENCY MANIPULATION IS A MAJOR
CAUSE OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF LOST MANUFACTURING JOBS.
AND IMPORTS FROM CHINA ARE ABOUT
HALF OF THAT.
SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE
MILLION JOBS AT THE LEAST, WHICH
IS CLEAR THAT THE MANIPULATION
OF CURRENCY KILLS THE PLAYING
FIELD IN FAVOR OF CHINA, AT
LEAST 25% AND IT'S NOT GETTING
BETTER.
CHINA'S CURRENCY MANIPULATION
ISN'T THE ONLY CAUSE OF THAT
DEFICIT OR LOSS OF JOBS, BUT
BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE ONLY CAUSE
DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD ADDRESS
IT.
IT'S A MAJOR ONE.
IT'S CLEAR WE HAVEN'T BEEN
EFFECTIVELY CONFRONTING CHINA ON
THIS ISSUE AND CHINA PUSHES
AHEAD.
IN A FEW WORDS, THE TIME HAS
COME FOR ACTION.
EIGHT YEARS OF TALK HAVE YIELDED
VERY MEAGER RESULTS.
THIS HAS BROAD BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
AND TO MAKE IT UTTERLY CLEAR,
LAST NIGHT THE SENATE PASSED A
BILL ON CURRENCY BY 63 TO 35, 16
REPUBLICAN SENATORS SUPPORTED
IT.
THIS WILL NOT KILL THE BILL.
IT WILL SEND IT BACK -- IT WILL
NOT SEND IT BACK TO COMMITTEE.
IF ADOPTED, THE BILL WILL
IMMEDIATELY GO TO PASSAGE.
SAID, NOW IS THE MOMENT FOR
ALL OF US TO BE COUNTED TO STAND
UP AND BE COUNTED.
NO EXCUSES.
AS ROBERT SAMUELSON SAID IN "THE
POST" LAST WEEKEND, THERE IS A
TRADE WAR BETWEEN THEM AND US,
AND ONLY ONE SIDE IS FIGHTING.
NOW WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT
BOTH SIDES ARE IN THIS EFFORT.
I YIELD THE BALANCE OF MY TIME
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA WHO IS SO ACTIVE ON
THIS ISSUE, MR. CRITZ.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
I APPRECIATE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN FOR
YIELDING AND I THANK HIM FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
AS THE CHAMBER CLOSEST TO THE
PEOPLE, THE HOUSE WORKS BEST
WHEN IT IS ALLOWED TO WORK ITS
WILL.
THOSE AREN'T MY WORDS BUT DIRECT
QUOTE OF SPEAKER BOEHNER.
2001 ENTRY INTO
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, WE
HAVE LOST NEARLY THREE MILLION
MANUFACTURING JOBS AND OUR
DEFICIT WITH CHINA HAS GROWN TO
$273 BILLION.
OUR MANUFACTURERS ARE HURTING.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE HURTING.
WE WERE SENT HERE TO LEAD.
HERE IS OUR CHANCE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATING
OVER TWO MILLION AMERICAN JOBS
AND REDUCING OUR ANNUAL TRADE
DEFICIT BY OVER $70 BILLION.
THE SPEAKER TALKS ABOUT A TRADE
WAR.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A TRADE
WAR, ASK STEEL TUBING, TIRES AND
SOLAR WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS
BECAUSE OF CHINA'S UNFAIR TRADE
PRACTICES.
AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO STAND
UP AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
STRENGTH.
YOU GAIN RESPECT THROUGH
THIS IS OUR MOMENT OF TRUTH.
THIS BILL HAS BROAD BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
WE MUST SEND A STRONG MESSAGE
THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT
STAND BY WHILE FOREIGN CURRENCY
MANIPULATORS DESTROY AMERICAN
MANUFACTURING JOBS.
IT'S TIME TO STAND UP AND BE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
TO DEFEND THEIR INTERESTS OVER
ALL OTHERS.
AT ANY RATE, MADAM SPEAKER, IT'S
TIME TO STOP BEING PART OF THE
PROBLEM AND BECOMING PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE
WAY.
AND AS THE SPEAKER SAID, LET THE
HOUSE WORK ITS WILL.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO STAND UP
FOR AMERICA TO LEVEL THE PLAYING
FIELD WITH CHINA.
SUPPORT THIS MOTION TO RECOMMIT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I
HAVE REMAINING?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN HAS 15
SECONDS.
THAT'S ALL IT WILL
TAKE.
THE ISSUE IS CLEAR.
ACT.
COUNTED.
YOU MUST STAND UP AND BE
THIS IS THE MOMENT ON CURRENCY
FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, I
WITHDRAW THE POINT OF ORDER AND
RISE TO OPPOSE THIS MOTION TO
RECOMMIT.
THE
POINT OF ORDER IS WITHDRAWN AND
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THE IMPLEMENTING BILL
BEFORE US REFLECTS A CAREFULLY
NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT THAT
INVOLVED THE WHITE HOUSE, U.S.
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE AND
BIPARTISAN STAFFS AND MEMBERS
FROM BOTH WAYS AND MEANS AND
FINANCE.
ALL FOUR OFFICES WERE CONSULTED
AT EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS AND
ALL SIDES WERE FULLY INVOLVED.
THIS PROVISION WAS NOT PART OF
THAT NEGOTIATION.
IN FACT, IT WAS NOT EVEN RAISED
DURING NEGOTIATIONS.
AND THIS THREATENS TO UNDO THE
CAREFULLY NEGOTIATED TERMS OF
THIS COMPROMISE AND SET OUR
TRADE AGENDA BACK.
THIS MOTION IS A TRUE POISON
PILL.
ANY CHANGE, EVEN MOVING A SINGLE
COMMA WOULD STRIP THE BILL OF
FAST TRACK PROTECTIONS IN THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.
THUS, THIS MOTION REALLY ISN'T
ABOUT CHINESE CURRENCY
PRACTICES, BUT AN EFFORT TO KILL
AGREEMENT.
THE COLOMBIAN FREE TRADE
IN FACT, THE IRONY IS THE ONLY
REASON THE MINORITY IS ALLOWED
TO OFFER THIS MOTION IS BECAUSE
THEN SPEAKER PELOSI TOOK THE
UNPRECEDENTED STEP OF TURNING
OFF THE CLOCK ON T.P.A. THREE
YEARS AGO ON THE COLOMBIAN FREE
TRADE AGREEMENT.
PASSING THIS WOULD REWARD THAT
DECISION TO PUT OUR TRADE AGENDA
ON ICE, IT HURT OUR ECONOMY AND
COST US JOBS AS FARMERS AND
EXPORTERS LOST OUT ON
OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT
FAST-GROWING COUNTRY.
WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBSTANCE OF
THIS MOTION, EVERYONE AGREES
THAT CHINA'S CURRENCY IS
UNDERVALUED.
IT MUST COMMIT TO ALLOW MARKET
SUPPLY AND DEMAND DETERMINE ITS
VALUE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE
NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT CURRENCY
IS NOT THE ONLY BARRIER TO U.S.
-- THAT U.S. BUSINESSES FACE IN
CHINA AND THAT LEGISLATION ON
CURRENCY IS NOT A SILVER BULLET.
I PLAN TO HOLD A HEARING IN THE
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE THIS
MONTH ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES,
INCLUDING CURRENCY, BUT THIS IS
THE WRONG VEHICLE FOR SUCH
LEGISLATION AND WOULD KILL THE
AGREEMENT.
VERY IMPORTANT COLOMBIAN TRADE
I THEREFORE URGE DEFEAT OF THIS
MOTION AND PASSAGE OF THIS
PORTRAYED AGREEMENT AND YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
.
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
AND
THE QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION
AND THOSE IN FAVOR WILL SIGNIFY
BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN
ASKS FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE
YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
AND PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 AND
CLAUSE 9 OF RULE 20, THIS
15-MINUTE VOTE ON THE MOTION TO
RECOMMIT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
FIVE-MINUTE VOTES ON PASSAGE OF
H.R. 3078, IF ORDERED, PASSAGE
OF H.R. 3079, PASSAGE OF H.R.
3080, ADOPTION OF THE MOTION TO
CONCUR IN THE SENATE AMENDMENT
TO H.R. 2832, AND A MOTION TO
SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS H.R.
2433.
THIS WILL BE A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
REPRESENTATIVES.
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS
VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 192 AND THE
NAYS ARE 236 AND THE MOTION IS
NOT ADOPTED.
THE QUESTION IS ON PASSAGE OF
THE BILL AND THOSE IN FAVOR WILL
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT, THE AYES HAVE
IT.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE?
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN RISE?
VOTE IS REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A RECORDED VOTE
WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS IS A
FIVE-MINUTE VOTE
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS
VOTE THE YEAS ARE 262 AND THE
NAYS ARE 167 AND THE BILL IS
PASSED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
VOTE ON PASSAGE OF H.R. 3079 ON
WHICH THE YEAS AND NAYS WERE
ORDERED AND THE CLERK WILL
REPORT THE TITLE OF THE BILL.
UNION CALENDAR NUMBER
157, H.R. 3079, A BILL TO
IMPLEMENT THE UNITED STATES
-PANAMA TRADE PROMOTION
AGREEMENT.
THE
BILL.
QUESTION IS ON PASSAGE OF THE
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
THIS WILL BE A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
A FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS
VOTE THE YEAS ARE 300 AND THE
NAYS ARE 129 AND THE BILL IS
PASSED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE AND THE UNFINISHED
BUSINESS IS THE VOTE ON PASSAGE
OF H.R. 3080 ON WHICH THE YEAS
AND NAYS WERE ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE
OF THE BILL.
UNION CALENDAR NUMBER
158, H.R. 3080, A BILL TO
IMPLEMENT THE UNITED
STATES-KOREA FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT.
THE