Political Quotes

“Mr. President, our country continues to struggle with the aftereffects of the housing bubble and the economic mistakes of the previous decade. There has been a great human cost to this economic slump--families forced out of their homes, shameful increases in child poverty, and a shrinking middle class. President Obama has offered a number of steps to help heal our economy and put people back to work. One such plan includes a doubling of U.S. exports within five years. Exports are good for America and good for American jobs. They strengthen our manufacturing and agriculture sectors and in turn create good paying jobs. Quite simply, to help create more jobs here at home, we need to be able to access new markets and eliminate trade barriers for U.S. exporters. At the same time, we must ensure that we engage not just in free trade, but fair trade--trade that upholds our values on labor, human rights, and environmental protections, fair treatment of U.S. products, and supports transparent markets. That is why in my time in Congress I have always considered each potential trade agreement on a case by case basis. This year, it was clear to me that we could not approve further free trade agreements if the trade adjustment assistance programs were not extended. We can't expand free trade without helping workers who may be displaced because of trade agreements. I strongly support and voted to extend the benefits under trade adjustment assistance.…”