Rep. Sutton Calls on Speaker Boehner to Allow Congress to Vote on Currency Manipulation Bill

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Betty Sutton (OH-13) called on House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to bring the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, HR 639, to the House Floor for a vote after the U.S. Senate passed the legislation earlier this week. Below is a transcript of her remarks from today's press conference, where she was joined by Democratic Whip, Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD), the lead Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, Sander Levin (MI), Congressman Tim Ryan (OH), and Congressman Mark Critz (PA):

"Thank you all for having me here today.

Every week I go back home to Ohio, and I meet with countless men and women who are ready to get back to work.

They are ready to prove something that we here already know -- that the American worker is the most productive and most innovative in the world.

But there's something standing in their way. And the good news is, we can fix it; we can do it now and it will not add to the deficit.

Right now there are thousands of Americans who would be put to work if we held China accountable for manipulating its currency.

By cheating the system and giving their manufacturers an unfair advantage, China has placed a roadblock in our road to economic recovery.

Thankfully, our friends in the Senate have taken action.

They have passed a bill that would hold China accountable and give our workers a level playing field on which to compete.

If House Republican leaders are serious about creating jobs -- they will bring this bill to the floor.

If House Republican leaders are serious about helping our economy recover -- they will work with those of us here to pass this bill and help our working families.

What is it going to take? How many people have to be out of work before the Republican Majority will focus on getting Americans back to work?

Last Congress, Democratic leaders put this measure on the floor and this House passed it on a very strong bipartisan vote of 348-79.

The question comes down to this: Speaker Boehner, are you going to stand up for fairness and thousands of Ohioans to give them the opportunity to get back to work by letting us vote on this bill?

Or Speaker Boehner, are you going to continue to stand idly by and allow China to continue to cheat and help add to the unemployment scourge Ohioans are facing.

It is your call, Mr. Speaker."

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