[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 152 (Wednesday, October 12, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SUPPORT THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS

  (Mr. OLSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, passing the South Korea, Colombia, and Panama 
trade agreements will decrease our trade deficit and make it easier for 
U.S. companies to compete on a global level. Specifically, the U.S.-
Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement levels the playing field for Texas 
exports and translates into a potential duty-free savings of $180 
million for this fast-growing regional market.
  For example, in the district I represent, Texas 22, Schlumberger 
exported $6.7 million in machinery parts to Colombia in 2010 and paid 
over $336,000 in duty fees. In Texas 22 alone, over 107,000 jobs are 
directly supported by over $57 billion in exports.
  Free trade means more money--money that stays with the companies in 
America, money that can be used to expand American businesses and grow 
American jobs.
  I urge my colleagues to level the playing field for American 
businesses by supporting these three free trade agreements. Let's 
export American goods and services, not American jobs.

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