On the recordOctober 12, 2011
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for yielding, and thank you for your leadership in this area. It has been nearly 5 years since we signed our trade agreement with Colombia, and although I'm disappointed that it took this long, I am so pleased we will be ratifying this agreement today. Once this trade deal has passed, we will finally have what our Trade Subcommittee chairman Representative Brady has correctly labeled a ``Sell American'' agreement with the third-largest economy in South and Central America. Exports of American goods will increase by more than $1 billion, and the ITC expects our stagnant GDP will get a boost of at least $2.5 billion, not to mention Kansas wheat farmers can look forward to an even larger share of the Colombian grain market. It's been 5 years in the making, but we are finally here. I urge my colleagues to come together and support the pro-jobs, pro-growth Colombian Free Trade Agreement.
