Political Quotes

“Madam President, I just want to say I thank the Senator from Oregon. He and I have worked together on a number of issues, not the least of which is some of these trade issues, and I look forward to continuing that collaboration. I do believe the Senator from Oregon is someone who really understands the value of opening export opportunities for American businesses and has worked and advocated on their behalf in his time in the Senate. I think the Senator would also understand the frustration some of us have expressed, and perhaps is felt even by him and others, that these things have languished for so long. I understand the issue of trade adjustment assistance is very important to him and many other Members on his side of the aisle, as well as some on our side, but it strikes me at least that we could have been at this a lot sooner and not have relinquished and given up so many of the lost market opportunities I mentioned in my remarks. It certainly impacts an agricultural State such as mine and many other Members who represent agricultural areas of this country. If you look at the loss of market share that has occurred in just these last few years since we have sort of been locked out and other countries have moved in to fill that vacuum, it is very frustrating to many of us to have witnessed that. That is why this amendment sort of gets at the idea that we need to know what the economic impacts are when these trade agreements don't get dealt with.…”