[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H9955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HIGHLIGHTING CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF USMCA

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was pleased to 
join 158 of my colleagues in sending a letter to Speaker Pelosi 
highlighting the critical importance of the USMCA trade agreement.
  It has been nearly 400 days since President Trump signed the 
agreement with our two closest trading partners, and at long last, it 
seems a vote may finally be in our near future. With less than 2 weeks 
left in the legislative calendar, a vote is long overdue.
  Farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and everyone in between will 
benefit from the passing of USMCA. USMCA will help increase market 
opportunities, keeping trade free and fair, and the projected impact on 
our Nation's agricultural industry is staggering.
  Under this new, revamped agreement, U.S. agriculture exports are 
expected to increase by more than $2 billion, annually, leading to an 
estimated 325,000 additional jobs here at home. That is good news, not 
just for our local rural communities, but for each and every American.
  USMCA will help bring U.S. trade policy into the 21st century. Each 
day that passes without a vote is leaving money and opportunity on the 
table.

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