With Ernst’s Support, USMCA Advances Out of Senate Committee
The modernized trade agreement benefiting Iowa’s farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses is now one step closer to ratification.
WASHINGTON—At today’s Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a tireless advocate for a modernized trade deal with Iowa’s top two trading partners, voted to advance the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Today’s bipartisan vote marks an important step toward the USMCA being brought to the full Senate for final passage.
Senator Ernst spoke on the importance of the trade deal to folks back home in Iowa. Throughout her 99 County Tour, including during a roundtable with farmers this past weekend, Ernst has heard from Iowans about the need for this agreement that will be a shot of positive energy into businesses, homes, and lives across rural America.
Click here or on the image above to watch a video of Senator Ernst’s remarks.
Senator Ernst’s full remarks are below:
“The United States Mexico Canada Agreement – or as we call it, the USMCA – is a huge deal for my constituents back home in Iowa.
“And just this last weekend, I was in my hometown of Red Oak, in Montgomery County, and I hosted a roundtable discussion with some of our farmers, and of course, the number one topic was USMCA.
“And that was the case last year on my 99 County Tour– Iowans have been waiting a long time on this trade deal to be ratified.
“Our farmers, manufacturers, and small business owners need certainty & predictability and getting this deal done with our top two trading partners gives them exactly that.
“We waited for over a year for the House Democrats to move on the USMCA, and I’m happy to be a part of this process today in getting this bill to the Senate floor as quickly as possible.
“My home state of Iowa exports more to Canada and Mexico than we do to our next 27 trade partners combined!
“The USMCA will allow those numbers to grow exponentially by creating new export opportunities and over 175,000 jobs across the country.
“I believe that having the USMCA will not only be a win for my state but also for the hard working Americans from all over the United States.
“Ratifying this agreement will be a shot of positive energy into businesses, homes, and lives across rural America.
“Mr. Chairman, as the daughter of a farmer and as a proud Iowan, it is a privilege to vote in support of passing USMCA out of committee today and I will be happy to support passage of the USMCA on the Senate floor.”
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