Brooks: America Must Lead On Global Stage

Statement

Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (R-IN5) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015:

"Today's vote was about securing Hoosier jobs and protecting America's global competitiveness. Indiana exports a total of $4.8 billion in agricultural products a year, while our strong manufacturing industry has seen a 56 percent growth in exported goods over the last five years alone. These are just two sectors of Indiana's economy -- among many others -- that benefit directly from trade.

This bipartisan agreement allows Congress to set up important negotiating objectives that will guide deliberations and strengthen transparency. It also protects the right of Congress to approve or disapprove any deals negotiated by the President, and for the first time, provides that either house of Congress can vote to turn off the negotiating process if the executive branch is ignoring the established guidelines.

Free trade is a value that Americans have lived by and promoted since our founding days. In recent times when this authority has lapsed, more than 100 regional trade negotiations were finalized without our nation's participation. Over the last few years, America's inability to fully participate in the global economy has caused China to assert itself in new and dangerous ways. As China continues to negotiate self-serving trade deals, we are losing jobs and revenue that Americans sorely need. In addition, we are also lacking a tool that leading experts like former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have called critical to the conduct of U.S. diplomacy. Simply put, our allies are questioning our willingness to lead and support traditional strategic partnerships. Today, we've reaffirmed our commitment to economic freedom and taken steps to create jobs and renew our prime position on the global stage in the process."

More than 38 million American jobs depend on trade with every $1 billion of increased exports creating 5,000 higher paying American jobs.

The Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 lays out nearly 150 negotiating rules and objectives the executive branch must pursue in any trade negotiation. This includes standards for intellectual property rights, agricultural trade, environmental protections and rule of law and human rights. It also allows members of Congress to review negotiating text and attend negotiating sessions. Moreover, it clearly preserves the right of Congress to have final say on whether to approve a trade agreement.

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