On the recordMay 13, 2015
as this body moves to consider trade legislation, it is our obligation to make sure that our existing and future trade laws are enforced and that we are looking out for those hurt by our trade agreements. Nearly everyone who supports these agreements--conservatives, Republicans, Democrats--nearly everyone who supports these agreements, even the most vocal cheerleaders for free trade, such as the Wall Street Journal editorial board, all admit that trade agreements create winners and losers. So if this body is going to vote for a new trade agreement, if the President is going to insist that we pass a new trade agreement, it is up to all of us that when there are winners and losers, we take care of the losers. If people lose their jobs because of a trade agreement passed by Congress, because of a trade agreement pushed and negotiated by the White House and ultimately ratified by Congress, approved by Congress, it is up to us to take care of those people who lost their jobs because of what we do; that is, to make sure they get the training and support they need, whether they are 30 years old, 40 years old or 55 years old, to find new careers. We owe it to American companies, and we owe it to American workers to make sure the laws we make are enforced and that they create a more level playing field. We cannot have trade promotion without trade enforcement. That is why the provisions contained in the Customs bill are so important.…
