Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019
Floor Speech
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Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I rise today alongside my Republican colleagues to once again voice my strong support for the U.S.-Mexico- Canada Trade Agreement. This agreement has been on the minds of Nebraskans for well over a year now.
Nebraska and rural America as a whole were dealt a tough hand in 2019. However, every time that I meet with Nebraska's farm families, ranchers, ag producers, and manufacturers, they reassure me that they can endure these challenges. They will sacrifice short-term anxiety for long-term certainty and predictability, but they need to know that there is going to be a light at the end of this tunnel. One important thing Congress can do to meet their needs is simple--pass the USMCA. This agreement is a victory for Nebraska and for America.
I will give you a glimpse into what this means for my State. Currently, Canada and Mexico receive 44 percent of Nebraska's total exports. In 2017 alone, our State sent nearly $900 million of ag products to Mexico and nearly $450 million of ag products to Canada. These exports include our world-class corn, soybeans, ethanol, and beef. As I have said before, America's heart beats in the same rhythm as agriculture. When our ag producers succeed, entire communities reap the benefits.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture reports that our State's $6.4 billion in agricultural exports in 2017 led to nearly $8.2 billion in additional economic activity in our State. That is why it is so important that Nebraska's top two markets, Mexico and Canada, are protected. We all know that the USMCA is the product of bipartisan good-faith work. Both sides agree that this deal not only updates but strengthens our environmental responsibilities, and it places enforceable labor obligations at the core of the agreement.
All former Secretaries of Agriculture since the Reagan administration, both Republicans and Democrats, have voiced their strong support. Even the Washington Post editorial board conceded that the deal is ``a real improvement over the status quo.''
Last July, a group of 14 House Democrats sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi urging her to move forward with USMCA immediately. The President of Mexico made his own plea to the Speaker in a letter last week. Canada is still waiting for us to act. The senior Senator from Iowa noted that a deal between House Democrats and the Trump administration must be struck this week if ratification of the USMCA is to take effect this year. Time is running out. Meanwhile, House Democrats are distracted by impeachment proceedings when they should be focused on passing this very meaningful agreement.
In the final weeks of 2019, we will see if the needs of hard-working men and women in the heartland take priority over political theater. I urge my colleagues to follow through on our Nation's priorities and end the months of needless stalling. We must act now. The passage of USMCA would be an incredible win for Nebraska, and it would be an undeniable victory for America.
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