Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Nepal Trade Preferences Act. This legislation is simple and straightforward. It grants duty-free status to imports of Nepalese garments for a ten year period. I have been a friend of Nepal and the Nepalese people for over 25 years. I have witnessed its political struggle and sadly the deterioration of its ready-made garment industry. The Nepal Trade Preferences Act bill will promote much-needed economic development and contribute to lasting political stability in one of the world's poorest countries. Allow me to go over some basic facts of everyday life in Nepal. Nepal has a per capita income of $730. Approximately 25 percent of the Nepal's 24 million people live in poverty. The unemployment rate in Nepal stands at a staggering 47 percent; and most Nepalese live on $2 a day. The 2005 phase-out of the Micro-Fiber Arrangement, which established export quotas from developing nations, has deeply damaged Nepal's apparel industry. Instead of continuing to import garments from Nepal, U.S. importers have shifted their orders to China, Bangladesh and other low-cost labor markets. In fact, the number of people employed by the Nepalese garment industry dropped from over 90,000 people to less than 5,000 today; textile and apparel exports from Nepal to the United States fell from approximately $95 million in 2005 to $45 million in 2013; and the number of garment factories plummeted from 212 to 30.…”