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Response from Mike Quigley - D, IL on letter asking for a no vote on TPA
This is from a Democrat in the House. It's amazing how much denial and spin is in this long response.
We need to vote out every Democrat that voted yes on the TPA and replace them with Democrats that give a shit about something besides money.
Thank you for writing me to share your thoughts on trade policy. Your views are important to me, and I appreciate hearing from you.
As you know, the House recently passed the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, H.R.2146, by a vote of 218-208. This legislation, also known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), gives President Obama the authority to negotiate trade agreements with other countries. Additionally, H.R.2146 includes a set of detailed negotiating objectives from Congress to the President that must be met in trade agreements, ensuring that any U.S. trade agreement includes vital labor and environment protections and requiring that the public and Congress play a key role in trade negotiations.
Over most of the last century, the U.S led the global economy: innovating, manufacturing, and selling American made goods around the world. But if we want to remain a leader in the growing global economy, we must embrace the economic opportunities that trade offers, while at the same time demanding agreements protect American workers and reinforce our morals around the world.
The value of competing globally is perhaps nowhere more evident than in Illinois and Chicago. Companies like Boeing and Caterpillar all do billions of dollars worth of exporting from Illinois every year. But it's not just these name brands that stand to benefit. We know that trade doesn't just help Wall Street or even just Main Street; it also helps businesses on the Side Streets like Elston Avenue.
In fact, of the over 23,000 companies that exported abroad from Illinois last year-over 15,000 of which are from the Chicago area- 90 percent were small and medium-sized businesses. Given that more than 95 percent of their potential customers live outside the U.S. and every $1 billion in exports supports 5,000 jobs, our businesses and workers stand to gain a great deal from the increase in exports that high standard trade deals offer.
Already, in the Illinois 5th Congressional district, exports support over 100,000 jobs. But we can create even more jobs by breaking down anti-trade barriers like high-tariffs and complex customs procedures that prevent Chicago-made goods and services from entering new markets.
That is why I voted in favor of the TPA legislation, which will give President Obama the authority to negotiate progressive, high-standard trade agreements with countries around the world- the same authority that we have given almost every president for the last 80 years.
It's important to note that other countries with abusive environmental and labor records, like China, are negotiating their own trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region, and if we're not setting the rules for global trade, China will. Without the U.S. leading the way in trade negotiations, there will be irreversible damage to our environment and widespread abuse of labor and human rights, all while we lose out on the opportunity to boost economic growth and create new high-quality jobs.
There is some concern that entering into new trade agreements will put U.S. companies in direct competition with businesses in countries that have poor environmental and labor standards. But the fact is, if the U.S. sits on the sidelines, then current international trading standards will become the status quo and other countries will never be required to adopt American standards.
This is our opportunity to correct the mistakes made in past trade deals like NAFTA by exporting our morals to other parts of the world. That's why this TPA demands that our trading partners adopt strong, enforceable environmental and labor protections in any future trade agreements. These requirements will ensure that American workers and American businesses are competing on a fair and level playing field, and that standards are raised around the world.
While I support policies that help ensure our nation remains competitive in an ever increasingly globalized world, please know that since coming to Congress I have never forgotten that protecting the environment and workers' rights are of extraordinary importance. In fact, in 2011, I voted against the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, H.R. 3078, precisely because of my concerns over labor abuses in Colombia. The consistency of my commitment on these key issues is also reflected by my 97% score on the League of Conservation Voters' 2014 National Environmental Scorecard, and the fact that I have maintained a lifetime score of 91% with the AFL-CIO.
While we may not agree on this issue, I want you to know I respect your views. Should future legislation on this topic come before the House of Representatives, I will cast my vote with your thoughts in mind. I invite you to visit my website https://quigley.house.gov for updates on my work and to subscribe to my e-newsletter. Please don't hesitate to contact me about issues of concern to you. It is an honor to serve you in the United States Congress.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Mike Quigley
Member of Congress
As you know, the House recently passed the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, H.R.2146, by a vote of 218-208. This legislation, also known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), gives President Obama the authority to negotiate trade agreements with other countries. Additionally, H.R.2146 includes a set of detailed negotiating objectives from Congress to the President that must be met in trade agreements, ensuring that any U.S. trade agreement includes vital labor and environment protections and requiring that the public and Congress play a key role in trade negotiations.
Over most of the last century, the U.S led the global economy: innovating, manufacturing, and selling American made goods around the world. But if we want to remain a leader in the growing global economy, we must embrace the economic opportunities that trade offers, while at the same time demanding agreements protect American workers and reinforce our morals around the world.
The value of competing globally is perhaps nowhere more evident than in Illinois and Chicago. Companies like Boeing and Caterpillar all do billions of dollars worth of exporting from Illinois every year. But it's not just these name brands that stand to benefit. We know that trade doesn't just help Wall Street or even just Main Street; it also helps businesses on the Side Streets like Elston Avenue.
In fact, of the over 23,000 companies that exported abroad from Illinois last year-over 15,000 of which are from the Chicago area- 90 percent were small and medium-sized businesses. Given that more than 95 percent of their potential customers live outside the U.S. and every $1 billion in exports supports 5,000 jobs, our businesses and workers stand to gain a great deal from the increase in exports that high standard trade deals offer.
Already, in the Illinois 5th Congressional district, exports support over 100,000 jobs. But we can create even more jobs by breaking down anti-trade barriers like high-tariffs and complex customs procedures that prevent Chicago-made goods and services from entering new markets.
That is why I voted in favor of the TPA legislation, which will give President Obama the authority to negotiate progressive, high-standard trade agreements with countries around the world- the same authority that we have given almost every president for the last 80 years.
It's important to note that other countries with abusive environmental and labor records, like China, are negotiating their own trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region, and if we're not setting the rules for global trade, China will. Without the U.S. leading the way in trade negotiations, there will be irreversible damage to our environment and widespread abuse of labor and human rights, all while we lose out on the opportunity to boost economic growth and create new high-quality jobs.
There is some concern that entering into new trade agreements will put U.S. companies in direct competition with businesses in countries that have poor environmental and labor standards. But the fact is, if the U.S. sits on the sidelines, then current international trading standards will become the status quo and other countries will never be required to adopt American standards.
This is our opportunity to correct the mistakes made in past trade deals like NAFTA by exporting our morals to other parts of the world. That's why this TPA demands that our trading partners adopt strong, enforceable environmental and labor protections in any future trade agreements. These requirements will ensure that American workers and American businesses are competing on a fair and level playing field, and that standards are raised around the world.
While I support policies that help ensure our nation remains competitive in an ever increasingly globalized world, please know that since coming to Congress I have never forgotten that protecting the environment and workers' rights are of extraordinary importance. In fact, in 2011, I voted against the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, H.R. 3078, precisely because of my concerns over labor abuses in Colombia. The consistency of my commitment on these key issues is also reflected by my 97% score on the League of Conservation Voters' 2014 National Environmental Scorecard, and the fact that I have maintained a lifetime score of 91% with the AFL-CIO.
While we may not agree on this issue, I want you to know I respect your views. Should future legislation on this topic come before the House of Representatives, I will cast my vote with your thoughts in mind. I invite you to visit my website https://quigley.house.gov for updates on my work and to subscribe to my e-newsletter. Please don't hesitate to contact me about issues of concern to you. It is an honor to serve you in the United States Congress.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Mike Quigley
Member of Congress
On edit: I would like to add that Illinois has lost some very important businesses due to NAFTA. This includes Brach Candy that had been a Chicago business since 1904. A business Chicago was proud to have. Then in 2007, it moved to Mexico.
