Barbara Boxer: “What kind of chance do our workers have? Do you think a manufacturer in their right mind is going to stay here when they…”

“What kind of chance do our workers have? Do you think a manufacturer in their right mind is going to stay here when they can go to Vietnam and have some terrific people? I know the Vietnamese community in my home State is fantastic. They are fantastic leaders. They are fantastic workers. It is sad that the ones who are left behind earn 58 cents an hour. What chance do our workers have? Now, we have 12 million manufacturing jobs left in this Nation of ours--this greatest of Nations. What kind of chance do they have? Do you know that I cannot get this amendment up for a vote? I think I know the reason. They do not want to have to vote against it. I am still hopeful. I am holding out hope. I am fighting for it. But it seems to me when you are saying to the American people: Do you want your Senator to have to go downstairs to a secure room, give up your electronics to a clerk, be told that if you take notes you have to leave them behind so the clerk can read it, but your staff cannot read it, you cannot discuss it with the people who do not have top clearance for the trade agreement? Then, you have to have the amendment that Senators Warren and Manchin have offered, which simply says: Make the trade agreement public before we give exceptional fast-track authority to any President. I do not care who it is--Democrat or Republican--this is not a partisan issue.…”