Andy Barr: “I thank the chairman for the opportunity to speak in favor of this important legislation for jobs, our economy…”

“I thank the chairman for the opportunity to speak in favor of this important legislation for jobs, our economy, transparency, and accountability. Free trade is critical for my constituents in central and eastern Kentucky. More than half a million Kentucky jobs are related to international trade, and expanding trade agreements will provide even more opportunities for job growth. Our State has a diverse economy that is synonymous with certain products, including coal, bourbon, and thoroughbred racehorses. We are a powerhouse of manufacturing, producing vehicles such as the Toyota Camry and even aerospace technology, which is the State's leading export category. To continue the growth in these signature industries, we need to establish fair and strong rules that hold other nations accountable for their unfair trade practices. We need to tear down barriers that block Kentucky goods from foreign markets. What does free trade mean for Kentucky? In 2013, 2 years after our last free trade agreement was completed, the car of the year in South Korea was the Toyota Camry, manufactured in my district in Kentucky. Let's be clear: The President already has the authority under the Constitution to negotiate trade agreements, but by passing TPA, we will ensure that Congress has the input into the final product and that America will shape the rules of global trade, not China.”