IABRN — “The yeas are 16, the nays are four. We have approved H.R. 5430, which will be reported favorably to the Senate,” said Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Tuesday approved H.R. 5430, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) voted in favor of the measure, which looks to provide Iowans needed relief.
“This last weekend, I was in my hometown of Red Oak. I hosted a roundtable discussion with some farmers, and the number one topic was USMCA. That was the case last year on my 99 County Tour. Iowans have been waiting a long time for this trade deal to be ratified. Farmers, manufacturers, and small business owners need certainty and predictability, and getting this deal done with our top two trading partners gives them exactly that,” Senator Ernst said.
Senator Ernst said, “I’m happy to be a part of this process today, in getting this bill to the Senate floor as quickly as possible.” She trusts ratification of this agreement will give businesses, homes, and lives in rural America a shot of positive energy.
“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 hard working Americans all over the United States,” Ernst said.
Members of the Senate Budget Committee also approved the legislation. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough last week directed the agreement to make additional stops before reaching the full Senate. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Health, Education and Labor, Foreign Relations and Appropriations plan to markup the bill tomorrow (Wednesday).
This article originally appeared on the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
