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[Page S177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA TRADE AGREEMENT
Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come to the floor today to mark
another major milestone for the landmark U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade
Agreement. This morning, Madam President, with you in the committee in
voting, the Environment and Public Works Committee overwhelmingly
passed the USMCA. With the approval of our committee, the USMCA is now
one step closer to final passage in the Senate.
We all know that it isn't perfect, but, still, it is an important
deal that benefits all Americans. Passing this deal provides much
needed certainty for America's manufacturers. Our ranchers and our
farmers--certainly, in Wyoming but across the breadbasket of the
country and the Rocky Mountain West--are counting on it as well.
Americans have waited patiently now for over a year. Speaker Pelosi
was the roadblock and held this hostage for an extended period of time.
She finally allowed the House to vote on it. Now the Senate is working
to move this critical piece of legislation forward and to the
President.
Passing USMCA will start the next chapter in the American economic
success story. The deal is going to increase our gross domestic product
by $70 billion. Above all, it is a win for American workers. It is
going to create 180,000 U.S. jobs, and you know that is just the
start. Already, our strong, healthy, and growing economy has been
setting records across the board. It is thanks to Republican pro-growth
policies. That is what we look to and point to when we take a look at
the record job growth we have had since President Trump has taken
office.
In just 3 years, we have created over 7 million new jobs in America.
The unemployment rate is at a 50-year low. It is astonishing. Wage
growth is the fastest it has been in a decade, especially benefiting
lower income workers. Everyone is better off with this growing economy.
There is still some untapped potential, and we need to unlock it now.
My home State of Wyoming is poised to reap huge benefits not only
from USMCA; our State has much to gain from new trade agreements with
China and with Japan as well. The China trade agreement is scheduled to
be signed tomorrow and Japan on January 1. Together, these America-
first trade deals mean expanded access to export markets. Wyoming
farmers and ranchers are very eager to seize these opportunities for
future growth.
I would just say, as I conclude, that here is the bottom line.
Passing USMCA means more jobs, and it means economic growth. It means
more certainty and more stability for our job creators. It means more
opportunity and more prosperity for America's working families. That is
the real measure of this. It is time now for the Senate to pass the
USMCA.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.
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