Political Quotes

“I thank the chair for yielding. Three and a half trade deals that we have taken up today have bipartisan support, the three pending free trade agreements and the GSP extension within this bill. Both parties in both Chambers agree that these important trade pacts will grow our economy, create jobs, and make America more competitive in the global marketplace. Sadly, however, the bipartisan, bicameral approval of the merits of these trade deals did not keep the Washington gamesmanship at bay. For nearly 10 months, as they pushed for an expanded and enlarged TAA program, our colleagues in the Senate allowed the GSP to lapse, holding American jobs hostage until their political allies could be pacified with a sufficient payoff. This delay wasn't simply an intellectual exercise either. It hurt real businesses, real families, and cost us real jobs in my home State of Kansas. Take the Berger Company in Atchison, Kansas. The family- owned Berger Company manufactures leather goods for sale across the United States. But due to the increased cost of materials caused by the lapse in the GSP, Berger has lost customers to foreign competitors like China, causing lower profit and placing real Kansas jobs at risk. I'm voting for this bill because we need GSP to be reauthorized immediately, but I'm extremely disappointed that Senate Democrats have again risked the continued lapse of this important program all for a TAA program that does not work.…”