[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4873-S4874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, after years of economic stagnation during 
the Obama administration, we are experiencing an economic revival. 
Thanks to Republican economic policies, the economy has taken off 
during the Trump administration. Unemployment is near its lowest level 
in half a century. June marked the 16th month that unemployment has 
been at or below 4 percent. For 15 straight months--15 straight 
months--we have had more job openings than Americans looking for work. 
Right now, there are roughly 1.6 million more job openings than 
Americans looking for work. That is the largest margin ever recorded. 
June also marked the 11th straight month that wage growth has been at 
or above 3 percent. Before 2018, wage growth had not hit 3 percent in 
nearly a decade.
  Importantly, the benefits of this economic growth are being spread 
far and wide. Ordinary Americans are seeing bigger paychecks, more 
jobs, and more opportunities. Over the past 3 years, pay hikes for the 
lowest income workers have grown the fastest. Huge numbers of new blue-
collar jobs have been created. Unemployment rates for minorities have 
decreased substantially. The unemployment rates for Asian Americans, 
African Americans, and Hispanic Americans are all at or near record 
lows.
  While our economy as a whole is thriving, there is one segment of our 
economy that is not fully enjoying the economic growth we have been 
experiencing. While our Nation's farmers and ranchers have seen 
benefits from tax reform, years of commodity and livestock prices that 
are below the cost of production, protracted trade disputes, and 
natural disasters mean our agricultural economy is trailing behind the 
economy as a whole.
  I am privileged to represent South Dakota farmers and ranchers in the 
U.S. Senate, and addressing the needs of these hard-working Americans 
is one of my top priorities.
  Recently, I was very pleased to be able to help persuade the 
Department of Agriculture to move the haying and grazing date to 
September 1 for this year for cover crops on prevent plant acres. This 
will allow farmers and ranchers in northern States like South Dakota to 
sow cover crops without worrying that they won't be able to harvest or 
graze them before winter weather sets in.
  Cover crops help farmers by improving soil health, which improves 
future yields, and they can save farmers significant money by serving 
as an important source of feed. That second benefit is particularly 
important for farmers right now. Due to last year's severe and lengthy 
winter, feed supplies disappeared, leaving no reserves. Cornstalks--a 
source of grazing and bedding--will be in short supply this year, and 
so will the supply of alfalfa due to winterkill. Cover crops will be 
crucial to alleviating this feed shortage.
  If necessary, I will be encouraging the Department of Agriculture to 
release Conservation Reserve Program acres for emergency haying and 
grazing this year to further address the feed shortage.
  The best source of information about what farmers and ranchers need 
is the farmers and ranchers themselves. Right now, producers are 
telling me that what they need more than anything else is market access 
for their products around the globe. Farmers and ranchers depend on 
trade. Our Nation's farmers and ranchers don't just sell their products 
here at home; they sell them around the world. In my home State of 
South Dakota, we export

[[Page S4874]]

a substantial portion of the agricultural products we produce. Right 
now, though, farmers and ranchers are facing a lot of uncertainty when 
it comes to trade.
  While farmers appreciate the assistance the administration has 
provided to offset the lower commodity prices resulting from current 
U.S. trade policies, they would prefer to receive a check from selling 
their products instead of from the government.
  Farmers are deeply concerned that their access to global markets, 
which has already diminished, will continue to erode, as U.S. 
agricultural products continue to be replaced by those from foreign 
competitors.
  That is why passing the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement 
and wrapping up the other trade agreements the U.S. is negotiating has 
to be a priority. I have repeatedly relayed this message to the 
President and key members of his administration, and I will continue to 
do so.
  While I strongly support the administration's goal of strengthening 
market access for our Nation's farmers and ranchers, the most urgent 
need right now is to get farmers certainty about what international 
markets are going to look like. Agreements with China, Japan, and the 
European Union all need to be concluded quickly to end current trade 
and market uncertainties.
  We need to pass the already negotiated United States-Mexico-Canada 
Agreement as soon as humanly possible. This agreement will preserve and 
expand market access for farmers and ranchers in two of our Nation's 
most significant agricultural export markets--Canada and Mexico. Of 
particular interest to the rapidly growing dairy industry in South 
Dakota, USMCA will expand market access for U.S. dairy products in 
Canada. The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that the 
agreement will boost U.S. dairy exports by more than $277 million. The 
agreement will also expand market access for U.S. poultry and egg 
producers, and it will make it easier for American producers to export 
wheat to Canada.
  Senate Republicans are ready to pass this agreement as soon as the 
President formally submits it to Congress. We are just waiting for 
Democrats in the House, who have still not indicated they are ready to 
take up the agreement despite the significant steps taken to address 
their priorities. It is high time for the Democrats in the House to 
make it clear they are ready to approve this agreement and allow our 
Nation's agricultural producers to start seeing the benefits. I will 
continue to fight to get USMCA passed as soon as possible.
  I am honored to represent thousands of farmers and ranchers in the 
Senate. I am proud that Republican economic policies have been lifting 
Americans across the economic spectrum. I will continue to work to get 
our Nation's agricultural economy going again so that our Nation's 
farmers and ranchers can prosper and thrive.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.