On the recordDecember 11, 2015
I thank the chairman for moving this bill forward and getting it one step closer to law after his long-term engagement in trade facilitation. Mr. Speaker and Members, trade facilitation and trade is key to growing our economy. This bill makes needed reforms to our Customs procedures; it strengthens enforcement measures behind our trade agreements; and it removes unnecessary barriers to trade. The bill couldn't come at a more important time. Think about it. We are in the midst of the opportunity to complete two of the most ambitious trade agreements in our Nation's history: one with countries in the Pacific Rim and the other with our allies in the European Union. The United States used to be at the top. We were at the top for our efficiency and trade and logistics and moving goods across the border, but our Customs procedures have become outdated, and we have slipped. Now we have too much paperwork and too much inefficiency. This bipartisan bill streamlines and modernizes our Customs system to get us back on track. Why is trade important? Of course, the answer is very simple: It is about jobs. Trade supports one in five American jobs. In my State of Minnesota, more than 774,000 jobs are connected to trade; so trade is driving our economy. Many of these jobs are held by people who do work at small- and medium-sized businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. In fact, 98 percent of all American exporters are small- or medium-sized employers. These are jobs that pay more.…
