CAFTA Good for Workers and Consumers Over the Long Run

Floor Speech

CAFTA GOOD FOR WORKERS AND CONSUMERS OVER THE LONG RUN -- (House of Representatives - July 27, 2005)

(Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, CAFTA has received a lot of criticism from many on the other side, but sometimes critics can be wrong. Does free trade present challenges to consumers and workers? Absolutely. Is it the death knell for manufacturers or textile makers? By no means.

I believe American workers, American products, American ingenuity can compete with any other nation on the planet, and free trade enables us to do it. In so doing, it lowers costs for consumers here and actually creates jobs. That is right, hundreds of thousands of jobs are insourced to this country.

We have all dealt with the pain of local factories shutting down and businesses closing, and it is tragic whenever it happens. But the fact is that even without free trade, businesses close. Free trade makes sure we have a flow of capital and jobs coming into the Nation.

So should we compete in the global economy or let it pass by? I think we should compete. I choose more and better jobs for our constituents. And, Mr. Speaker, this is also a matter of national security. Vote for CAFTA.

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