Jim Ramstad: “Mr. Speaker, if ever we needed to put statesmanship ahead of partisanship, it is here and now. We can move forward…”

“Mr. Speaker, if ever we needed to put statesmanship ahead of partisanship, it is here and now. We can move forward, remaining engaged in the global marketplace, or we can turn backward and isolate ourselves, driving a stake into our economy and saying goodbye to thousands of lost jobs. As has been said before, the world economy will move forward with or without us. Our trading partners will continue to negotiate and enter into new trade agreements which grow their businesses and create new jobs in their countries. Look at the last 20 major trade agreements enacted in this hemisphere since fast track expired. Where is the United States? Left out of all 20 major agreements. Around the world, believe me, Mr. Speaker, major exporting nations are hoping that Congress votes down fast track authority tonight. Our competitors win if the world's largest economy is excluded from trade negotiations, pure and simple. As a Minnesotan and a member of the Subcommittee on Trade, I have seen firsthand the value of exports and increased trade to U.S. workers. My State of Minnesota is the 12th largest exporting State. The Twin Cities, which includes the Third Congressional District, is the eighth largest metropolitan area in terms of exporting in the Nation. Eight percent of Minnesota's gross State product is exported to other nations. Minnesota's exports over the last five years have grown 150 percent.”