Hensarling Statement in Praise of House-Passed Free Trade Agreements to Create Jobs and Spur Growth
WASHINGTON – House Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) issued the following statement today in praise of the House-passed free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea to enhance American job creation and prosperity.
“There is not decades but centuries of historical evidence that free trade creates jobs. The agreements passed by the House today as part of the House Republican Plan for America’s Job Creators are among the most powerful job-creating bills we’ve approved this year. As elected leaders, when we stand for free trade, we stand with American consumers and sellers, job seekers and job creators.
“I applaud Chairman Camp and my colleague from Texas, Chairman Brady, for their excellent effort in guiding these critical agreements to the floor for passage. The result could be, according to the administration, up to 250,000 new American jobs. As the top exporting state in the union—with total exports exceeding $200 billion, and exports to Colombia, Panama and South Korea topping $12 billion just last year—Texas knows the economic power of free trade fully well as Texas businesses have been able to create more than 250,000 jobs in the past year alone.
“I believe it speaks to the fundamental economic liberties and necessities of the American citizen to open up as many markets to American goods and products as possible. And, for example, if a struggling school teacher in Mesquite, Texas wants to buy a fifteen dollar sweater made in Peru, as opposed to a twenty five dollar sweater made in Peoria, she ought to have that right as a citizen of a free nation. As a people, it’s just commonsense to do what we do best and trade for the rest.
“House Republicans have been focused on job creation since Day One. Part of that effort has been to oppose the president whenever he’s proposed more taxes or new regulatory burdens on job creators. But when the president wants to support the creation of new jobs and new markets through increased trade, we will work with him hand in hand. Today represents the culmination of years of work to help American businesses of all sizes export more goods to earn more capital to create more jobs. As free trade grows, jobs and income flow.
“The passage of these free trade agreements marks a victory for economic liberty, for national prosperity, and for the enduring alliances with our friends in freedom around the world. It is also further proof that job creation remains job number one for House Republicans as we continue, week after week, to carry out the House Republican Plan for America’s Job Creators.”
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For additional information, contact:
House Republican Conference Press Office (conferencepress@mail.house.gov)
