[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 107 (Tuesday, July 20, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H5729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TIME TO ACT ON TRADE IS NOW

  (Mr. SMITH of Nebraska asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, for far too long, the approval of 
pending trade agreements with countries such as Colombia, South Korea, 
and Panama have languished, awaiting approval by Congress.
  According to research conducted by our colleagues on the Ways and 
Means Committee, the inaction of these trade agreements is costing 
America jobs and market access. In fact, implementing the Colombia 
trade agreement alone could create an estimated 8 million U.S. jobs. 
Every day we delay, the more ground our Nation and our economy lose to 
our international competitors.
  Earlier this month, the Canadian Parliament ratified a trade 
agreement with Colombia, improving their access to this market and 
putting our producers at even more of a disadvantage. Trade is an 
indispensable part of American prosperity, and Congress needs to take 
immediate, decisive action on these trade agreements.

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