[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6498-6499]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, last week we passed an important bill 
that protected the rights of the American people. It said the people in 
Congress have a right to be involved in an agreement the President 
negotiates on Iran's nuclear program. Well, that was an important piece 
of legislation, and I was glad to see it passed with overwhelming 
bipartisan support.
  The bill on trade promotion authority, which we have been talking 
about this week, is also very important. This bill is about U.S. trade 
with other countries and the proper role Congress should play in that. 
It is also very much about America's future, and that is why 
Republicans are so committed to this piece of legislation.
  The problem is Senate Democrats have pulled the rug out from under 
the American people and the President. They blocked the Senate from 
even considering this important piece of legislation. This is not the 
normal story of Democrats v. Republicans or Senator Reid v. Senator 
McConnell. Oh, no. This is a story about Senator Reid v. President 
Obama.
  America's economy grew by just 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 
this year. When the Democratic leader orders the Senators on his side 
of the aisle to block this bill, is he saying the American people 
should be satisfied with 0.2 percent growth? Is that satisfaction?
  If we are going to get America's economy going and growing again, we 
need to increase opportunities for America's farmers, ranchers, and 
manufacturers to sell their products overseas.
  According to the Commerce Department, 95 percent of the world's 
customers live outside the United States. That means there are billions 
of people around the world who want to buy American products, and that 
means creating jobs for Americans who make those products. It means 
lower prices for many of the products Americans want to buy at home. It 
means more money for the American economy, which is good for all of us. 
Now, all of that comes from more U.S. trade with other countries.
  The bill we are debating right now is very important to American 
families and to the American economy. Trade promotion authority is a 
valuable tool. It helps make sure there are strong rules that hold 
other countries accountable for their unfair trade practices. It also 
helps us forge agreements to tear down the barriers that block American 
goods from foreign markets. The sooner we renew trade promotion 
authority, the sooner American families can start reaping the benefits.
  It is outrageous Senate Democrats are keeping us from taking this 
step to help these families all across the country. The benefits of 
trade are substantial for places such as my home State of Wyoming.
  Exports from Wyoming to other countries amounted to almost $2 billion 
last year--$2 billion. The Wyoming chemical industry alone exported 
nearly $1 billion worth of material.
  One of our most important chemical exports is soda ash, which is a 
chemical used to make things such as glass and detergents. It is the 
largest inorganic chemical export in the United States, and it is 
responsible for thousands of American jobs. Our producers face high 
tariffs in some countries, and they are competing with China for the 
customers.
  If we pass this bill and follow that up with the kind of trade deals 
it allows, we could add another $40 million in new soda ash exports, 
and that means a lot of jobs here at home.
  Trade promotion authority helps give American producers a fair chance 
to compete for business overseas.
  In Wyoming, our farmers and ranchers also export beef, lamb, and 
grain. We export machinery, minerals, and energy from our oil and gas 
producers. Wyoming's presence in the global marketplace has been 
increasing, and we as a nation cannot afford to stop that progress now. 
We need more access to more markets and we need fair competition.
  So the question is: Why are the Democrats standing in the way of all 
of that? Democrats are blocking more than just the money for American 
workers and our economy. Economic prosperity itself strengthens our 
Nation and makes it more secure.
  Ronald Reagan once said: ``Our national security and economic 
strength are indivisible.'' He understood that national defense is 
expensive and that America needs a strong economy to pay for it. Reagan 
understood that American trade with other countries can help strengthen 
our military alliances as well. American goods sold overseas provide an 
American presence all around the world. They are economic boots on the 
ground.
  The Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter, said something similar in a 
speech last month. He said: ``Our military strength ultimately rests on 
the foundation of our vibrant, unmatched, and growing economy.''
  He said the kinds of trade deals this bill would promote are ``as 
important to me as another aircraft carrier.'' Now, that is the current 
Secretary of Defense agreeing with what President Ronald Reagan said 
years ago.
  The Defense Secretary also talked about what all of us in the Senate 
know to be true: If America does not continue to lead in global 
commerce and does not attract more trading partners, someone else will. 
More likely than not, that is going to be China.
  America needs to step up and start negotiating effective, fair, and 
enforceable trade agreements or we are going to be allowing China to 
write the rules for global trade. If that happens, every Senator here 
knows those rules will not favor American workers and American exports. 
Senate Democrats know that, and they are still standing in the way of 
this legislation.
  Last year, our exports supported nearly 12 million American jobs. 
That is an increase of 2 million jobs since 2009. It is great news, but 
it is not enough.
  According to the latest numbers that came out last Friday, there are 
another 17 million Americans who are either unemployed, are working 
part time because they cannot find full-time work or have absolutely 
given up and stopped looking for a job. There are 17 million Americans 
who are waiting for our economy to really start growing again.
  We need to create more stable, long-term jobs for those Americans who 
have been left behind by the weak economy over the past 6 years. More

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U.S. trade with other countries can help make that happen. This trade 
promotion authority bill is the first step toward reaching that goal 
and Democrats know that. Why then are they fighting so hard to make 
sure this bill fails? Why are they fighting so hard to block those 
jobs? This legislation would give the President a clear roadmap--a 
roadmap to follow while negotiating trade deals. It also ensures that 
Congress and the American people have a say about whether a deal goes 
through. That part is extremely important.
  I mentioned the fight we just had with the White House to make sure 
the American people and Congress can review an agreement with Iran over 
its nuclear program. Well, this bill says right up front that Congress 
will get to have an up-or-down vote on any trade deals.
  This isn't about expanding the powers of the President. I know a lot 
of Senators have serious concerns about how President Obama has abused 
his authority in unchecked and unprecedented ways. A lot of Americans 
have those same concerns. This bill is not just about this President. 
It is about the next President and the one after that. It is about 
American workers, American families, and growing the American economy 
for all of us. It is about making sure America continues to lead and 
Americans continue to prosper. American exports to other countries are 
the key to this. This bill on the floor right now can make sure all of 
that happens, and it makes sure the American people have their say.
  It is time for Senate Democrats to call off their destructive fight 
with the President. It is time for Senate Democrats to stop blocking 
trade, stop blocking jobs, and stop blocking progress for American 
families and for our economy.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  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. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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