On the recordJune 25, 2015
This is a good day for America. As the previous speaker just said, globalization occurs with or without America engaging in the world. It is important for America to engage in the world, to write the rules of the global balance economy; but whether or not we do or we don't, there will be winners and losers because of globalization. This bill is called the preferences bill, but it is more than just about preferences. It is about America's leadership in Africa. It is about America's leadership in Haiti. It is about America's leadership at home in providing trade assistance for those workers who did lose their job because of globalization. My dad was one of them. Long before America engaged in a bilateral trade agreement, my dad lost his job as a steelworker. There are important provisions in this bill written by Chairman Ryan that will help the steel industry. That is really important. My dad was in that industry. He lost his job of 25 years. He benefited from trade assistance. This is important for American workers. This is also important for those workers who lost their job through no fault of their own and who lost their health care. The health coverage tax credit is renewed in this bill. This bill almost wasn't, quite frankly. There was a lot of rhetoric on the floor of this House and the floor of the other House about the word of our chairman and the word of our Speaker and about how this wouldn't come up and we can't trust them.…
