Chuck Grassley: “I want to speak about one of those issues in regard to trade and agriculture. Trade promotion authority is so important…”

“I want to speak about one of those issues in regard to trade and agriculture. Trade promotion authority is so important for us to get down trade barriers that stand in the way of the successful and fair trade of our agricultural products with other countries. Without trade, there is not going to be any profitability in farming. The fact is, we produce 40 percent more on our farms than is consumed domestically. So a good trade policy is what is necessary if we are going to have full production and if we are going to have profitability in farming. We had the pleasure of bringing up a bill that had the support by a vote of 18 to 3 of the Senate Finance Committee. That was about 4 months ago and we still don't have any commitment from the leadership to bring this critical, bipartisan trade legislation to the floor by a date certain, so we can plan on that date and be ready for one of the most important issues to come before Congress this year and eventually vote on it.”