Bill Pascrell: “I thank the chairman and Mr. Brady. I thank Messrs. Blumenauer and Buchanan for the great job that they did. I also…”

“I thank the chairman and Mr. Brady. I thank Messrs. Blumenauer and Buchanan for the great job that they did. I also thank Mr. Lighthizer. He is a different kind of guy, and I really believe that he was essential to getting to this vote today. In my entire political life, I have never had anyone say to me, as was said today, that if you vote against this, you are voting for the status quo. I even have a Jerry Garcia tie on today. Me and the status quo don't agree most of the time. So there are some questions that do remain. The ship of human rights has not been righted. The President never once mentioned in any speech, during 2016 until now, about human rights and about workers' rights in discussing NAFTA. Mexican workers are still being treated like chattel, American jobs will still flow through other countries, and sham protection unions will still own the day. This bill has made many improvements, but it is not enough. Some can say: Is there ever enough? There are too many questions. Will Mexico be held accountable to fully enforce their labor laws? We don't know.”