Ron Kind: “I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this trade preferences bill and the Trade…”

“I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this trade preferences bill and the Trade Adjustment Assistance legislation that is before us today. As the previous speaker pointed out, for us to be in this situation did require a little leap of faith. We weren't sure how we were going to be able to get back after the procedural snafu earlier to have a chance to reconsider Trade Adjustment Assistance, but I give credit, and I thank the leadership on both sides of the aisle, especially my good friend and colleague on the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Ryan from Wisconsin; the Speaker; and Senator McConnell. They promised, as we did move forward trying to give the President trade promotion authority, that they wouldn't pull any punches, that they would allow Trade Adjustment Assistance to come back for consideration, and that is exactly what is happening today. This has not been an easy process, but this week, the President will get trade promotion authority on his desk so this administration can go forward and try to negotiate the best agreement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership--and even with our European allies--that we can obtain in order to elevate standards and begin to level the playing field so that our workers, our farmers, our businesses have a better chance of competing in that global environment, especially the fastest growing region in the Pacific Rim right now. That is what TPP is all about.…”