On the recordJune 12, 2015
I thank Chairman Ryan for yielding, and I also thank him for his leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I would point out three things: trade promotion authority needs to pass, TAA needs to pass, and the customs bill needs to pass. Those are the toggle switches that are set up. The negotiations with Chairman Ryan could not have been better. I laid two issues out in front: one was my concern that the President would negotiate global warming and climate change; the other one was the strong things that go beyond rumors of the negotiation of immigration provisions into the future trade agreements that would be negotiated under a trade promotion authority. We addressed those issues. The language in the customs bill is language that is tight. I have confidence in it. It says it shall not obligate the United States to grant access or expand access to visas issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15). Mr. Speaker, this satisfies my concerns, and I know that enforcement is a concern. But we are committed to standing together should that day come that we need to do that, and we are hopeful that and expect that the President, who we also anticipate will follow his commitment to sign this bill, will also abide by the provisions in it. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
