Political Quotes

“today I will vote to approve the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, which will grant the President trade promotion authority, TPA, through 2021. This was not an easy decision, but one I am confident is right for North Dakota. Exports are critical to the bottom line of our State's agricultural producers as well as our manufacturers. Agricultural exports means jobs. In 2013, North Dakota exported over $4 billion in agricultural products ranging from beef to wheat to fresh vegetables. USDA estimates that in 2013, every $1 billion in U.S. agricultural exports, 7,580 American jobs are required. For North Dakota that translated into more than 30,000 jobs supported by agricultural exports. We must do everything we can to expand agricultural exports to support existing jobs and create new ones. In 2013, total North Dakota grain exports totaled over $3.5 billion. North Dakota-grown hard red spring and durum wheat exports made us the No. 2 wheat exporting State in the Nation, with exports valued at over $1.2 billion in 2013. North Dakota was also the No. 2 exporting State for soybeans in 2014/15, exporting 182 million bushels. These commodities are exported around the world, but especially to the Pacific Rim and Europe, where the United States is currently negotiating free trade agreements which will remove barriers which make us less competitive. North Dakota is also an important exporter of manufactured goods like farm machinery.…”