Pete Sessions Applauds Passage of Trade Agreements to Grow Economy, Create Jobs
I released the following statement regarding Wednesday's House passage of pending Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with South Korea, Panama and Colombia:
I applaud the House’s approval of three job-creating agreements that will stimulate our economy by allowing manufacturers to expand their exports of American-made goods with important trading partners. Now more than ever, our economy needs this kind of growth.
Eliminating trade barriers through these FTAs will place the United States on a level playing field with our foreign competitors and boost the creation of much-needed jobs across the country and North Texas. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, exports directly support 467,305 jobs in Texas – including 64,881 jobs in the 32nd Congressional District. With unemployment 9.1 percent nationally and 8.5 percent in Texas, passage of these long-pending trade agreements that could create approximately 250,000 new jobs is welcome news.
House Republicans have advocated for these common-sense trade agreements for years, and their enactment is a critical component of our Plan for America’s Job Creators. I am encouraged that President Obama finally sent real job-creating solutions to Congress and look forward to working with my colleagues on further expanding America’s trade agenda. I will continue to support pro-growth policies that empower the free enterprise system, get the American people back to work and put our nation on a path towards prosperity.