On the recordJune 25, 2015
Mr. Speaker, 95 percent of all consumers are outside the United States. When you look at who exports and who is involved in international trade, over 80 percent of the companies that do this are small- and medium-sized companies. In fact, in the State of Texas, 93 percent of all the companies that export are small- and medium-sized companies. One point that we understand, if we want to make sure that labor and environmental standards are higher in those countries that we want to deal with, the only way we can do that is by engaging, by talking, and by having a conversation; and that is why these trade agreements are important. Again, I support a TPA. I support TAA. On TPP, let's reserve our judgment, and let's make a decision on the facts at this time.
