Providing for Consideration of HR 2930, Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act, and Providing for Consideration of HR 2940, Access to Capital for Job Creators Act

Floor Speech

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I agree with the gentleman from Texas that we ought to be doing everything we can for American workers. The time has come for this House to vote on the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act.

My friends across the aisle need to stop standing in the way of American jobs. It's time to act. We've been discussing this issue with the Government of China for more than 8 years, and this Republican majority has done not one blessed thing. American manufacturers should not be forced to compete against a 28 percent discount on imports from China due to China's predatory currency practices. This legislation will give meaningful relief to U.S. companies and workers who are hurt by China's currency manipulation.

This is a bipartisan measure. Amazing. The same bill passed the House last year with an overwhelming vote, including with a strong majority of Republicans. Now, of course, that was last year. The majority of the House this year, 230 Members, have cosponsored this bill, including 62 Republicans. A similar bill passed the Senate by a large bipartisan vote. American workers expect every one of us on both sides of the aisle to fight against China's predatory trade practices and to fight for American workers.

The question you have to ask yourself, Mr. Speaker, is: How long are we going to have to wait for a jobs bill to come from the Republican side? It seems like it may never happen until after the election of 2012.

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