Sen. Cruz: Trade Promotion Authority Creates a Path for Prosperity
We must engage the global economy to ignite growth and opportunity at home
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), today released the following statement regarding legislation to establish trade promotion authority:
"The American middle class is getting crushed by the Obama economy," said Sen. Cruz. "Middle class incomes are stagnating, and the labor force participation rate has not been this low since the Carter Administration. While I have serious concerns about the all-too-typical Washington backroom deals that enabled this bill to get to the floor, I could not in good conscience vote against a bill whose most significant impacts will be jobs, growth, and opportunity for struggling American families.
"By passing Trade Promotion Authority, we create a path for trade agreements to reduce government-created barriers to prosperity. More economic growth will expand opportunity to those working to climb the economic ladder and achieve the American Dream.
"This bill increases the transparency of trade deals considered under its rules. It requires the public posting of the full text of any such agreement for at least 60 days before Congress begins consideration and reaffirms that Congress gets the final say. It would enable both this President and the next to expand trade that benefits American workers.
"This legislation ensures the United States will not be stuck on the sidelines as China aggressively pushes the 19 trade agreements it currently has under construction. It sends a message to the world that the United States will play an active role in writing the rules that will govern international trade this century. The cost to peace and prosperity of doing otherwise is too great to let this opportunity pass."
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