Todd Tiahrt: “last year's trade deficit reached $670 billion. Our Federal deficit was over $300 billion. Top-rate jobs have gone…”

“last year's trade deficit reached $670 billion. Our Federal deficit was over $300 billion. Top-rate jobs have gone overseas. How did we get in this situation? How did we get in this position? Mr. Speaker, over the last generation Congress has passed laws with good intent, but with terrible consequences. Our government has created barriers to creating jobs, and the results have not been good. Other nations are rising to the challenge of tomorrow's economy. China is graduating 350,000 engineers every year. India graduated 80,000 software engineers last year. While we are reducing the number of visas for creative talent in America, other countries are developing their talent. Mr. Speaker, we have to change the environment in America and remove the barriers created by Congress. If we are going to avoid becoming a third-rate economy in the future, we have to pass legislation like the Central America Free Trade Agreement so we can create jobs, strengthen our economy, balance the trade deficit, balance the Federal budget right here in America. We can do it by passing this legislation along with others, Mr. Speaker; and as we lead the challenge for competitiveness in America, we hope that our colleagues will join with us from the other side of the aisle. ____________________”