On the recordJune 12, 2015
I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I grew up in an auto town, where almost everyone had a family member who worked in the industry, but today there are no cars made there anymore. To me, trade deals should be about whether or not we will fight for American jobs and American workers' wages. Bad trade deals cost us both. Unless we have a say, unless the American people have a say, this trade deal will do exactly the same and cost us more jobs. I have read the text, and I know where we are at with it as of now. I would like to see a deal that has better real protective teeth for labor and environmental law, strong protections for American sovereignty, and better protections for food safety and more. Bottom line: I want a trade deal that protects American jobs and lifts our wages right here at home. If we vote for TPA, we will have no ability to make it better. For this trade deal or any other trade deal in the next 6 years under any President, if we want the American people to have a voice, a real voice, we must retain our authority to impact trade deals and vote against TPA in all votes that affect it today.
