Letter to Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States

Letter

Today, Congressman Jim Renacci (OH-16) joined with 66 other Freshman House members in sending a letter to the White House, urging President Obama to support quick passage of pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

With other countries aggressively seeking new trade agreements and opening up new markets, this letter reiterates the need for a comprehensive trade agenda that begins with moving forward on our agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea within the next six months.

"We stand ready to work with you to ensure that new opportunities are created for our farmers, manufacturers, service providers and workers by passing the three pending free trade agreements," the letter states, adding that expanding trade will increase economic growth and create jobs in the United States.

"Continued delay in these pending trade agreements leaves the United States and American workers at a competitive disadvantage," Renacci said. "With more than 21 consecutive months of unemployment at or above 9 percent, we need to open all possible avenues to job creation. Addressing these outstanding trade agreements is an important start."

The letter, led by Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY), was sent to the White House on March 1.

March 1, 2011

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We write to you as new and returning Republican Members of the House of Representatives who strongly believe that expanding trade will increase economic growth and create jobs here in the U.S. We stand ready to work with you to ensure that new opportunities are created for our farmers, manufacturers, service providers and workers by passing the three pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea within the next six months.

You have set a goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2014. We applaud this initiative because we know that deepening economic ties with out trading partners will create badly needed jobs for Americans. We believe that achieving the goal of doubling exports languished, while our partners have aggressively pursued negotiations that exclude the U.S. and put American workers at a competitive disadvantage. The time has come to put rhetoric into action.

We are committed to working with you to develop a comprehensive trade agenda. We believe the first step in that process is to move forward on our agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea without delay. Our economy and our job market cannot afford anything less than swift and decisive action.

SIncerely,

Tom Reed
Rick Berg
Adam Kinzinger
Francisco "Quico" Canseco
David Rivera
Billy Long
Sandy Adams
Charlie Bass
Dan Benishek
Diane Black
Larry Buschon
Ann Marie Buerkle
Steve Chabot
Rick Crawford
Jeff Denham
Robert Dold
Sean Duffy
Blake Farenthold
Chuck Fleishmann
Bill Flores
Cory Gardner
Bob Gibbs
Chris Gibson
Paul Gosar
Tim Griffin
Michael Grimm
Richard Hanna
Andy Harris
Vicky Hartzler
Nan Hayworth
Joseph Heck
Tim Huelskamp
Bill Huizenga
Randy Hultgren
James Lankford
Kristi Noem
Richard Nugent
Alan Nunnelee
Stevan Pearce
Mike Pompeo
Benjamin Quayle
James Renacci
Reid Ribble
Scott Rigell
Todd Rokita
Dennis Ross
John Runyan
Robert Schilling
David Schweikert
Austin Scott
Tim Scott
Steve Stivers
Marlin Stutzman
Scott Tipton
Joe Walsh
Allen West
Daniel Webster
Steve Womack
Rob Woodall
Kevin Yoder
Todd Young
Raul Labrador
Mike Kelly
Scott DesJarlais
Steve Southerland
Bill Johnson
Pat Meehan