{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=47160DB6-6359-43C1-BD3E-826233148367", "Barrasso: Trade Deal is Essential to U.S. Economic Growth", "2019-11-14", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "WY", "John Barrasso", "B001261", "www.barrasso.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Without question, the most important trade deal we need to pass right now is USMCA  the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. In my view, it is vital to continuing our American prosperity.\r\n\r\nClick here to watch Sen. Barrasso's remarks.\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke recently on the Senate floor about the need to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement to keep America's record-setting economy on track.\r\nExcerpts of Senator Barrasso's remarks:\r\nI come to the floor today to shine a spotlight on our strong, healthy, growing economy.\r\nSpecifically, my focus is on how this record-setting economy is helping and can continue to help all Americans.\r\nSince Republicans took over and passed tax relief, there has been no end to the boon in jobs in our country.\r\nRepublicans have put the U.S. worker in the driver's seat.\r\nThe October jobs report again beat all expectations.\r\nU.S. employers added a solid 128,000 jobs last month alone.\r\nEven better, American workers are noting that their wallets are thicker; they are fatter. Wages are up 3 percent year over year, and it is the fastest growth  faster than inflation.\r\nWe also continue to see record-low unemployment across the country.\r\nAt 3.6 percent, the U.S. jobless rate is near a 50-year low.\r\nAfrican-American unemployment is at a 50-year low.\r\nIn fact, 3 years of Republican pro-growth policies have produced more than 6 million new jobs  actually, 6,700,000 new jobs.\r\nToday, the United States has nearly 160 million people working.\r\nThat is another record high.\r\nMedian household income is the highest in 20 years.\r\nNo wonder a new poll by Gallup shows Americans are planning to spend more than ever this holiday season because they have the money. They have earned it, and they have kept more of their hard-earned money as a result of tax relief.\r\nThe U.S. stock market continues to set new highs, and that is welcome news for people when they look at their pensions, their retirements, and their 401(k)s.\r\nNotably, trade optimism has been a major factor in the stock market's climb to record highs.\r\nWhich brings me to my next point: How do we start the next chapter of the U.S. in terms of our success story?\r\nI believe it is through America-first trade victories.\r\nWithout question, the most important trade deal we need to pass right now is USMCA  the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.\r\nIt's vital, in my view, to continue our American prosperity.\r\nThe U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement was signed by all three countries' leaders more than a year ago, so you would think, well, it should be in place. But it takes more than that.\r\nMexico gave its final approval to USMCA in June.\r\nCanada is waiting for us  for our House and our Senate to do the approval as well.\r\nWithout a doubt, USMCA is the best trade upgrade in 25 years.\r\nIt is going to expand market access for a host of U.S. products, and it is going to sharpen U.S. exporters' competitive edge.\r\nAbove all, USMCA is a big benefit for American workers.\r\nIt will protect and produce millions of U.S. jobs, and that is critical.\r\nI predict it will pass the Senate with strong bipartisan support.\r\nSo it has to get here.\r\nYet we have not crossed the finish line. There is a roadblock, and the roadblock is at the other end of this building.\r\nThe roadblock is Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She has not and will not yet allow a vote in the House of Representatives.\r\nIt seems to me the Speaker is too obsessed with impeaching the President instead of being focused on fighting for American workers.\r\nShe stopped all progress on USMCA in its tracks.\r\nThe stakes, meanwhile, could not be higher.\r\nPassing USMCA saves American jobs.\r\nTwelve million current American jobs are on the line.\r\nThe deal will create a new 180,000 U.S. jobs.\r\nUSMCA is a boon for the entire economy. It will boost our economy by $70 billion.\r\nSo what exactly is the Speaker waiting for?\r\nCanada and Mexico are our top trading partners.\r\nU.S. producers don't need impeachment chaos or an impeachment circus; what we need is trade certainty.\r\nNot only is the deal essential for U.S. manufacturers, our ranchers and farmers are counting on it as well.\r\nCanada and Mexico are the top export markets for American farmers.\r\nLast year, U.S. agriculture exports to the two countries totaled $40 billion.\r\nFor the past 5 years, Mexico has consistently ranked second or third for U.S. wheat imports.\r\nUSMCA is a huge win for Wyoming wheat growers.\r\nMy State is going to reap enormous benefits from this deal.\r\nWyoming foreign trade has increased nearly 20 percent in recent years.\r\nWyoming farmers play a key role in our economy.\r\nThis Friday, I will be honored to attend the 100th annual meeting of the Wyoming Farm Bureau. It will be in Laramie.\r\nOur farmers add billions to the State economy every year, and trade is a big part of it.\r\nWyoming's annual agriculture exports total $300 million.\r\nThe export market supports 2,600 jobs in our State.\r\nOur State not only produces livestock, seeds, and crops, but we are exporting essential chemicals that farmers everywhere need to grow their crops.\r\nWyoming farmers and ranchers are counting on expanded export markets for future growth.\r\nNew markets mean new opportunities, and Wyoming is poised to seize them.\r\nIn coming years, we plan to add to our high-quality beef, our grain, and our hay exports.\r\nFuture State exports will include gluten-free products, as well as craft beer and distilled spirits, just to name a few.\r\nThat is why the USMCA agreement is so essential for the people, not just in Wyoming but for people all across America.\r\nTo keep our record-setting economy on track, we need to pass this America First' trade deal, and we need to do it now.\r\nIt is time to put partisan politics aside.\r\nIt is time to pass USMCA.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=47160DB6-6359-43C1-BD3E-826233148367"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2573027051985264, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}