Gregory Meeks: “I want to thank Mr. Rangel. I stand in support of this bipartisan legislation, which passed the Senate by a vote of…”

“I want to thank Mr. Rangel. I stand in support of this bipartisan legislation, which passed the Senate by a vote of 99-1. It includes preferences that are critical to so many economies in the developing world: the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, a core of close economic partnerships between the United States and a host of African nations; the Generalized System of Preferences, tariff preferences which help developing countries compete and build their economies worldwide; the Haiti HOPE and HELP programs, which provide duty-free treatment for certain Haitians to help Haitians build a 21st century economy. And I know that my constituents have been calling for the passage of these provisions for many, many months. As I have traveled to many affected nations, they too have experienced and expressed the serious and dire consequences that they could suffer without these benefits. This is not just about helping other nations. The fact is, right here in the United States, exports grow as a result of increased trade with these nations that results from extending preferences in trade and investment flows--critical to my district and districts all across the United States. It is critically important.…”