[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA TRADE AGREEMENT

  Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I come to the floor today to mark 
another major milestone for the landmark U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade 
Agreement. This morning, Madam President, with you in the committee in 
voting, the Environment and Public Works Committee overwhelmingly 
passed the USMCA. With the approval of our committee, the USMCA is now 
one step closer to final passage in the Senate.
  We all know that it isn't perfect, but, still, it is an important 
deal that benefits all Americans. Passing this deal provides much 
needed certainty for America's manufacturers. Our ranchers and our 
farmers--certainly, in Wyoming but across the breadbasket of the 
country and the Rocky Mountain West--are counting on it as well.
  Americans have waited patiently now for over a year. Speaker Pelosi 
was the roadblock and held this hostage for an extended period of time. 
She finally allowed the House to vote on it. Now the Senate is working 
to move this critical piece of legislation forward and to the 
President.
  Passing USMCA will start the next chapter in the American economic 
success story. The deal is going to increase our gross domestic product 
by $70 billion. Above all, it is a win for American workers. It is 
going to create 180,000 U.S. jobs, and you know that is just the 
start. Already, our strong, healthy, and growing economy has been 
setting records across the board. It is thanks to Republican pro-growth 
policies. That is what we look to and point to when we take a look at 
the record job growth we have had since President Trump has taken 
office.

  In just 3 years, we have created over 7 million new jobs in America. 
The unemployment rate is at a 50-year low. It is astonishing. Wage 
growth is the fastest it has been in a decade, especially benefiting 
lower income workers. Everyone is better off with this growing economy. 
There is still some untapped potential, and we need to unlock it now.
  My home State of Wyoming is poised to reap huge benefits not only 
from USMCA; our State has much to gain from new trade agreements with 
China and with Japan as well. The China trade agreement is scheduled to 
be signed tomorrow and Japan on January 1. Together, these America-
first trade deals mean expanded access to export markets. Wyoming 
farmers and ranchers are very eager to seize these opportunities for 
future growth.
  I would just say, as I conclude, that here is the bottom line. 
Passing USMCA means more jobs, and it means economic growth. It means 
more certainty and more stability for our job creators. It means more 
opportunity and more prosperity for America's working families. That is 
the real measure of this. It is time now for the Senate to pass the 
USMCA.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.

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