United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. This legislation ratifies the USMCA, an update to the North American Free Trade Agreement agreed to by the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico last year.

Over the past year, House Democrats have made the USMCA a better deal for the American people. New provisions in this trade agreement improve the original language by strengthening provisions related to labor and the environment. Most importantly, House Democrats fought hard to ensure Congress kept its authority to address the rising costs of prescription drugs by stripping out a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry that would have locked in high prices for biologics across North America.

As the dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation, I know how important trade is to my state. This is an issue that unites Democrats and Republicans across Texas. Whenever trade is brought up, everyone pays attention because it's one of the drivers of our economy. In North Texas, Canada is one of our largest trading partners, and many goods that are transferred between the three countries in this agreement make their way through North Texas either on our highways, through the DFW International Airport, or through the Union Pacific Dallas International Terminal Inland Port in my district. While the energy sector created jobs and built the economy in North Texas, NAFTA and other trade agreements have only made our economy stronger.

Last year, I invited Ambassador Lighthizer to speak to the Texas Congressional Delegation about the USMCA and the profound impact it would have on our state. Ambassador Lighthizer and his staff at the office of the United States Trade Representative held similar meetings with other congressional delegations and working groups so that they could understand all points of view on this agreement. Their willingness to work tirelessly alongside House Democrats to make this agreement a better deal for the American people deserves recognition.

Mr. Speaker, trade policy shouldn't be an issue that divides the members of this chamber on partisan or regional lines. We see here today what can be done when both sides come together to advance the causes of American workers, farmers and consumers. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.

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