Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2596, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, intelligence is critical to our national security. It should not be besmirched by a controversial and unrelated procedural shenanigan, unprecedented in the annals of the House of Representatives.

In the words of the President of the United States, It is time to play it straight. TAA and TPA, that package was voted on. It was defeated. We are done. Play it straight.

Write new legislation. Put together a new package. Bring it to the floor of the House. See if it has a majority. That is playing it straight.

Instead, in an unprecedented move, a vote we took last week is being held in never-never land to be revoted on as late as the end of July. That is right. Early June votes tabulated in late July.

If you are against unprecedented shenanigans, vote ``no'' on the rule. If you are for playing it straight, vote ``no'' on the rule. If you are against TAA, vote ``no'' on the rule. If you are against TPA, if you are against fast track, vote ``no'' on the rule.

If you vote for an unprecedented procedural shenanigan, an unprecedented procedural mutation today, you can be sure it will be used against you and your district and your beliefs tomorrow. And if you are not against fast track, you should be because it gives an enormous gift to China, and we get nothing in return.

China's number one tactic for running up the largest trade surplus against us in history is currency manipulation. This deal that is put on the fast track enshrines the view that currency manipulation is just fine. Go to it. A giant gift to China.

In addition, the rules of origin provisions say that goods that the manufacturer admits are 50 or 60 percent made in China--which means actually 70 or 80 percent made in China--get fast-tracked into the United States.

Vote ``no'' on this procedural mutation.

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