Political Quotes

“I come from a city that in many ways exemplifies this transition to a global economy, for Memphis is the distribution capital of the United States. Every conceivable product from soybeans to microprocessors lands in our airports, docks at our harbors, or travels our highways. Markets and trade directly affect how people in my district live. This agreement, as it has been said over and over again, only opens their markets to ensure that cotton and wheat and soybeans, jet engines, insurance, automobiles, and even Internet services can be sold to our new friends in China. At a time when family farmers are struggling, it seems to me to be only right that we open up a market where 1.2 billion people live. But our vote today should not be interpreted as a blank check for the deplorable abuses taking place in China. As a matter of fact, trade should not be interpreted as acceptance, but as really a challenge. For trade builds wealth, wealth spreads freedom, and freedom defeats tyranny. In cities across the world our values are followed, our products are imitated, and our culture is envied. Give those in China the opportunity to envy us here in America. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support normalizing permanent trade relations with China.”