Political Quotes

“I rise in support of the United States- Jordan Free Trade Agreement. First, I congratulate Chairman Baucus and Senator Grassley for their work in producing this very important legislation, which is a significant step forward in making Jordan a world partner with the United States. Most of the debate on this matter is centered on the new ground which this measure makes in including multiple worker rights provisions in the body of the U.S. trade agreement, rather than as a side agreement, for the first time. The volume of the bilateral trade between the United States and Jordan throughout the 1990s was consistently modest. Therefore, it is thought, this agreement is unlikely to have any great immediate or dramatic impact on the volume of bilateral trade. However, I wish to share with my colleagues what this agreement means to the Commonwealth of Virginia and, particularly, to the Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Richmond, VA. Albemarle is a worldwide manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals, such as bulk ibuprofen, biocide products, and flame retardants. Nearly 50 percent of the corporation's revenues are derived from products that are sold outside the United States.”