Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and thank him for his leadership on this series of trade bills that we have been considering for the last few weeks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the preferences bill before us. This bipartisan legislation renews both the Generalized System of Preferences and the African Growth and Opportunity Act. GSP is an important program, both to Washington State businesses and promoting economic development across the globe.

Similarly, the renewal of AGOA is critical to further strengthening our ties with Africa. The strong bipartisan vote this legislation received weeks ago made clear there is strong support for these programs in Congress and among the American people.

Also included in this legislation is a renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance, and I am proud, as Mr. Ryan said, to sponsor the House legislation to renew TAA because there is a need for this program. I believe increased trade is good for all Americans. It creates jobs and it makes America stronger. But I also understand that as we create jobs and trade, and our jobs change over the next few years, along the way some workers may need extra assistance and additional training. That is why TAA is so important.

Now, we have made great strides this past week by sending TPA to the President's desk; and I am also proud that TPA was attached to another bill, which happened to be a labor bill, TSP, which created a fair application of retirement benefits for Federal public safety officers. Now, Mr. Speaker, we must move forward, pass TAA and AGOA today, General System of Preferences.

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