[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       AMERICAN TRADE AGREEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT T. SCHILLING

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 12, 2011

  Mr. SCHILLING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the spirit of 
competition, in support of American workers and as an advocate for a 
government that seeks to provide economic certainty for the businesses 
that create jobs in this country.
  Later today, the House will vote on bipartisan trade agreements with 
Colombia, Panama and South Korea. These agreements represent an 
opportunity to compete, grow jobs and promote American exports.
  Here is what we know. Ninety-five percent of the world's customers 
live outside of our great country.
  Here is what I believe. If America gives itself the opportunity to 
compete with other countries--like these three agreements will--
American manufacturers and farmers will deliver, and we will win.
  Job creation is a red, white and blue issue. And that is why you see 
Democrats and Republicans coming together to provide this opportunity 
for American exports to compete.
  In the 17th District of Illinois which I have the honor to represent, 
I recently visited a company that manufactures mining trucks. Nine out 
of 10 of these mining trucks are bought by customers overseas. These 
jobs are dependent on exports. This same company also manufactures 
bulldozers, 8 out of 10 of which are sold to buyers overseas. Yet 
again, this is an example of jobs being created because of demand for 
American products by customers in the global economy.
  These trade agreements will reduce tariffs on goods and remove 
barriers that are currently in place. By leveling the playing field for 
our manufacturers and farmers, we can further promote these 
cornerstones of the American economy. We need to enact policies that 
strengthen our manufacturing base which is why I am a cosponsor to 
legislation offered by my colleague and friend, Dan Lipinski. Three 
million manufacturing jobs and almost 4 million agriculture sector jobs 
are dependent on U.S. exports.
  The independent U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that 
these agreements will increase American-made exports by $13 billion and 
inject $10 billion to our GDP. President Obama estimates that these 
agreements could create a quarter-of-a-million jobs.
  According to the Congressional Research Service, the last time the 
United States signed a trade agreement was back in 2006 with Peru. 
These FTA's could have been sent to Congress back in 2009. Every day we 
hold off on is a day we deny American workers the opportunity to 
compete.
  These trade agreements aren't about rhetoric, they are about results. 
We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while other countries enter in 
to trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, causing us 
to lose market share.
  Again, I rise in support of these trade agreements. If as a country 
we are allowed to compete, I know we will deliver.

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