Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, this is a good day for America, and it is a good day for us in the House. There are so many people to thank for making this day possible, not just for the people in developing countries in Africa, but, more importantly, for Americans who recognize, unless we can raise the level of survival in other countries, our country is not fulfilling its moral and economic obligations.

I want to give a special thanks to the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. It is kind of rough listening to him talking about TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, because he knows and I know that, if we wanted each bill passed, we would be concerned not by what the multinationals want, but we would be concerned about the middle class. The middle class you can help by having infrastructure, you can help by having an education, all the things that are not Democratic issues. On this particular AGOA bill, he gave assurances that he thought that this standing alone did not have to get involved in the controversy that people had over the more controversial bill. Like he said, he made his commitment. He kept his commitment. It is things like this that should have younger Members realizing Congress can do it, we can work together, and I thank him publicly for that.

You will be hearing more from other Members in terms of the involvement that they have had. Certainly, Mr. Levin from the very, very beginning working with Jim McDermott, working with Republicans, gave birth to this bill 10 years ago, and his guidance and support and the Ways and Means members have given another year.

Karen Bass, she is something special. She came to us after serving as California speaker. She grabbed Africa, foster care, and those types of issues that people have left behind, but she managed to make certain that everyone knows that this country cares, and cares deeply.

It is ironic that as we talk about Africa, we are talking about Haiti, we are talking about developing countries, and we also are talking about those workers who, through no fault of their own and because of international and national decisions, have lost their opportunity to have self-esteem and to have a job.

These are issues that we have touched on in this bill. These are issues that go nowhere in terms of how far America has to go in order to be fair and equal and allow us to include real wages, real education, and real opportunity in the pursuit of happiness.

But since we are trying and since there is nothing in this bill that doesn't point us in the right direction, especially on the same day that the United States Supreme Court has recognized that compassion is not restricted to just those who can afford insurance on their own, I just want to thank the leadership in this House, both Republican and Democrats, for the great work that allows me to be a proud Member of this House.

Karen Bass, she is something special. She came to us after serving as California speaker. She grabbed Africa, foster care, and those types of issues that people have left behind, but she managed to make certain that everyone knows that this country cares, and cares deeply.

It is ironic that as we talk about Africa, we are talking about Haiti, we are talking about developing countries, and we also are talking about those workers who, through no fault of their own and because of international and national decisions, have lost their opportunity to have self-esteem and to have a job.

These are issues that we have touched on in this bill. These are issues that go nowhere in terms of how far America has to go in order to be fair and equal and allow us to include real wages, real education, and real opportunity in the pursuit of happiness.

But since we are trying and since there is nothing in this bill that doesn't point us in the right direction, especially on the same day that the United States Supreme Court has recognized that compassion is not restricted to just those who can afford insurance on their own, I just want to thank the leadership in this House, both Republican and Democrats, for the great work that allows me to be a proud Member of this House.

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