[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21890]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        ELIMINATE TRADE BARRIERS

  (Mr. HENSARLING asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, it is a fundamental freedom of the 
American people to purchase products in an open, competitive market. 
International trade is the key to opening more markets for more 
American consumers. More trade means more competition, and competition 
means families can buy more using less of their paychecks. More trade 
also means expanded opportunities for American exporters and job 
creation.
  Many Democrats claim that trade, for some reason, is a bad thing for 
our economy. They are wrong. The facts show that trade has had a very 
good impact on our economy. Approximately 12 million, or 10 percent, of 
all U.S. jobs depend on exports. One in five factory jobs depend on 
international Federal trade.
  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has emphasized that because of 
increased trade since World War II, U.S. annual incomes have been 
boosted over $10,000 per household. And if we would just eliminate all 
remaining trade barriers, U.S. incomes would rise anywhere from $4,000 
to $12,000.
  We in Congress may have the power, but do we have the right to deny 
Americans better incomes and better opportunities by preventing them 
from buying cheaper products overseas? I say ``no.''

                          ____________________