Political Quotes

“I have supported trade agreements that have come through this body since I have been here, but this one falls short. I stand in opposition to the legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in reluctant opposition to the implementation legislation for the Free Trade Agreement with the Dominican Republic and Central America, known as DR-CAFTA. Throughout my service in the U.S. House, I have supported policies that encourage export promotion because exports can play an important role in strengthening our economy. But our economic policies must work to build the American middle class by investing in education, training and health care for working families as well as expanding access to new markets for our products. Our trade policies must lift living standards in other countries whose workers will compete for American jobs. If American workers are forced to compete with workers from countries without a growing standard of living, the race to the bottom will lower the economic opportunities and quality of life for everyone. I firmly believe that America must exert our global economic leadership to promote democracy and economic growth, but that engagement must be matched with a commitment to empower middle class Americans to compete and win in the global economy. We can do better than this DR-CAFTA, and we must.…”