Larry Combest: “One of the glaring concerns that agriculture has faced over the last 3 years has been a concern about the ability or…”

“One of the glaring concerns that agriculture has faced over the last 3 years has been a concern about the ability or inability to expand markets. While I recognize and appreciate the deep-held feelings of those people who were opposed to the granting of permanent normal trade relations with China, I think it was one of the most significant votes that we could take in this House on, not only what is good for America, but what is good for our farmers when we have 1.3 billion people, the largest market in the world, that is now opening up to American production. All of the groups that have come forward and have talked about the amount of increase and income for their producers and the amount of increase in the price of hogs or cattle, the number of exports that will become available to us, it was really, in my opinion, a no choice, that we have now made ourselves available to a market that everyone else in the world would have taken advantage of.”