On the recordDecember 19, 2019
I am indeed happy, and I am thrilled today to actually be here and cast my vote for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or the USMCA. I can't tell you enough of what it will do for our districts in northern Indiana. The hardworking Hoosiers in Indiana's Second District are builders and growers. We manufacture most of the RVs you see on the road and a large portion of boats and trailers that you see on many lakes. We manufacture auto parts and musical instruments. Our farmers put food on the table, including corn, soybeans, pork, duck, eggs, and dairy products. Mexico and Canada are key export markets for all of them and the workers they employ. It has been 25 years since NAFTA has been in force. Technology, transportation, and consumer habits have all evolved; NAFTA, however, stayed the same. Politicians promised the sky when it came to trade agreements, but President Trump promised to modernize NAFTA, and, unlike anyone else, he kept that promise with USMCA. USMCA dismantles trade barriers that stood in the way of American exports for so long. For farmers in my district, this means more dairy, more poultry, and more eggs are heading to Canada. For manufacturers, this means fewer paperwork headaches that slow down shipments and prevent them altogether. For businesses of all sizes, types, and shapes, this means e-commerce standards that promote fair competition and that will be used as a standard in future agreements.…
