[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 152 (Wednesday, October 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1831-E1832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      UNITED STATES-KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 11, 2011

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, at a time when millions of American 
families are struggling and so many people are looking for work, 
passage of the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement should be a top 
priority for our government.
  It is time to grant American businesses and exporters barrier-free 
access to the world's 13th largest economy.

[[Page E1832]]

  The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that it will 
increase our export of goods by at least $10 billion a year.
  That's not even counting the high-value services in which our country 
leads the world, which are now largely shut out of many areas of South 
Korea's economy.
  The Administration estimates that at least 70,000 jobs will result 
from the free trade agreement with South Korea alone.
  That means paychecks for 70,000 American families.
  The years of delay in sending this agreement to Congress since it was 
first signed in 2007 have put U.S. businesses at a severe disadvantage.
  Earlier this year, the European Union's free trade agreement with 
South Korea went into effect, giving their companies a major boost and 
resulting in lost sales for American companies and lost jobs here in 
the U.S.
  But there is more at stake than just increased exports.
  South Korea is a key U.S. ally in an unstable region of the world, 
where tens of thousands of U.S. troops stand on guard against 
aggression, and where U.S. interests are increasingly under threat from 
China and other countries.
  At a time when much of the world is waiting to see if the U.S. will 
retreat from its responsibilities, passage of this free trade agreement 
will serve as a clear demonstration of our enduring commitment to our 
ally South Korea and our determination to defend our interests 
throughout East Asia.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for the U.S.-South Korea Free 
Trade agreement and for the creation of tens of thousands of jobs for 
the many Americans who desperately need them.

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