Tim Huelskamp: “I appreciate the opportunity to visit with you on the floor today. Every day that goes by without these agreements is a…”

“I appreciate the opportunity to visit with you on the floor today. Every day that goes by without these agreements is a missed opportunity. Hundreds of missed opportunities have passed because of years of delay, which is why we cannot afford to waste one more day. The fact is, today in South Korea, for example, beef costs nearly $24 a pound. Pork costs nearly $10 a pound. These facts can only work to the mutual benefit of both U.S. producers and Korean consumers. When America is starved for jobs and economic growth, agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea present an occasion for Washington to address these challenges. Up to a quarter million new jobs and a hundred billion-dollar boost to the country's GDP are glimmers of hope in what is otherwise a bleak economic outlook. And not a dime of taxpayer money has to be spent to create good American jobs. For America to be part of the 21st-century economy, it is not enough to simply buy American. We have to sell American. America's safe and efficient ag, energy, and manufacturing production makes the U.S. an attractive trading partner. Americans can compete, and we can win. When the Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States toured a hog farm in my district in August, he was both impressed and astonished by the safety and cleanliness of our facilities. That signaled to me that America, and Kansas in particular, has much to offer the world.…”