[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 21 (Monday, February 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H1171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1915
                      BENEFITS OF TRADE AGREEMENTS

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Madam Speaker, today's Wall Street Journal ran an 
editorial on the benefits of trade agreements. It is clear that 
additional trade agreements are an essential part of our economic 
future if we want high-quality, high-paying jobs for ourselves and our 
children.
  Several years ago, I formed the Economic Competitive Caucus to reveal 
the barriers, created by Congress, that keep us from bringing jobs back 
to America.
  Lack of free trade agreements is one of those barriers, and it is 
clear that from the information from the U.S. Trade Representative's 
office that our trade has increased 26 percent with 10 of the countries 
that we signed trade agreements with since 2001, compared with the rest 
of the world, which has only grown by 13 percent. This success has 
meant more union jobs at U.S. manufacturers like Caterpillar, Boeing, 
and Cessna.
  Madam Speaker, I believe America would have a stronger economy and 
more high-quality, high-paying jobs, including more union jobs, if 
Congress had approved 40 trade pacts like the Chilean Government has 
over the past 15 years.
  Madam Speaker, let us tear down the trade barriers for American 
working families.

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