[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 6, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IRAN NUCLEAR AGREEMENT REVIEW ACT AND BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE 
                   PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Senate is now nearing completion of 
the bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. This is a bipartisan 
bill which is based on an important principle: that the American 
people, through the Congress they elect, deserve a say on one of the 
most important issues of our time.
  This act would require that any agreement reached with Iran be 
submitted to Congress for a review. It would require that Congress be 
given time to hold hearings and to take a vote to approve or disapprove 
of the agreement before congressional sanctions could be lifted. It 
would give Congress more power to rapidly impose sanctions if Iran does 
cheat.
  Many wish the bill were stronger. I don't disagree with them. But 
this is a piece of legislation worthy of our support. It offers the 
best chance we have to provide the American people and the Congress 
they elect with the power to weigh in on a vital issue. We will pursue 
other opportunities to address Iran's full-spectrum campaign to 
increase its sphere of influence in the broader Middle East as well.
  I look forward to Senators of both parties coming together to pass 
this bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act soon. Once we do, the 
Senate will take up another measure designed to hold the administration 
accountable: the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and 
Accountability Act. This bipartisan bill is about a lot more than just 
expanding Congress's oversight authority. It is about delivering 
prosperity for the middle class and supporting jobs. It is about 
helping American workers sell more of what they make and farmers sell 
more of what they grow. It is about eliminating unfair rules in other 
countries that discriminate against American workers and American jobs. 
Remember, the United States already has one of the most open markets in 
the world, but other countries maintain unfair barriers against 
American goods and services--barriers that trade agreements can reduce 
or even eliminate to make things fairer for America.
  That is why the United States is currently involved in negotiations 
with Europe and several nations in the Pacific such as Japan--in order 
to break down barriers to goods stamped ``Made in America.'' That is 
the main point here. We want to knock down barriers to our goods 
stamped with ``Made in America'' to be sold in other countries.
  One estimate shows that trade agreements with Europe and the Pacific 
could support as many as 1.4 million additional jobs in our country, 
including over 18,000 in Kentucky alone. But in order to get there, we 
will first need to lay down some clear and fair rules of the road for 
our trade negotiators. That is what the Bipartisan Congressional Trade 
Priorities and Accountability Act would do.
  First, it would make Congress's priorities clear, issuing specific 
objectives for the administration's trade negotiators.
  Second, it would mandate transparency, forcing the administration to 
consult regularly with Congress and stakeholders.
  And it would reaffirm the supremacy of this body and require our 
exclusive approval before trade agreements are enacted.
  The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act 
is good bipartisan legislation that was endorsed overwhelmingly in the 
Finance Committee 20 to 6. It is good for the middle class, it is good 
for manufacturers, and, yes, it is very good for farmers.
  Here is what one Kentucky constituent--a corn, wheat, and soybean 
farmer from Spencer County--recently wrote to say on the issue:

       We need free trade to compete with grain farms in South 
     America. Dozens of people have jobs as a direct result of our 
     small business: Input suppliers, truckers, mechanics and 
     traders, just to name a few.

  He went on.

       Help me and all these people by expanding trade and 
     consumption globally. Our future depends on it.

  Well, I couldn't agree more with that farmer from Spencer County. Our 
future does depend on cultivating better opportunities for American 
goods, American crops, and American workers in the 21st century.
  I look forward to the Senate turning to the Bipartisan Congressional 
Trade Priorities and Accountability Act very soon.

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