United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Kansas yielding to me.
I stand before you today representing the outstanding people of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District to call upon the Speaker to bring up and my colleagues to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, otherwise known as USMCA.
Back in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District during the August work month, I heard from our farmers our manufacturers, and energy producers, all of whom would benefit from the passage of the USMCA.
Their message to me was clear: We need to complete this trade deal so we can continue hiring, growing wages, and keep this economy rolling. The benefits of the USMCA to our agriculture community are critical.
Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District is home to over 10,500 farms, 98 percent of which are family farms. Moreover, our district is responsible for 18 percent of Pennsylvania's agricultural sales.
During August, I visited Brown Hill Farms in Tunkhannock. I met with dairy producers at an ag-dairy summit with USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and my colleague, Congressman G.T. Thompson.
I also attended Penn State's AG Progress Days, Pennsylvania's largest outdoor agricultural exposition. At each visit, dairy producers said the same thing. The USMCA agreement would greatly benefit them by eliminating Canada's Class 7 milk, allowing American dairy farmers to once again sell milk ingredient products in Canada.
Canada and Mexico have taken steps to finalize this agreement. What is stopping the United States from doing the same? Right now, the agreement is sitting on Speaker Pelosi's desk.
Let's be clear. Failure to bring up the USMCA for a vote is a failure to stand up for American jobs, American workers, and American families.
That is a shame because one thing that Members of Congress share is that we want to do what is best for our districts and for our country. Our constituents sent us here to work on things that will actually help people. USMCA will do that by prioritizing American jobs, American goods, and American workers.
I thank Congressman Estes for organizing tonight's Special Order on USMCA. Let's work on things that can actually help people. Let's work on things that can have a positive impact. Let's pass the USMCA.
Mr. Speaker, let's get this done.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source