releases: https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-ruiz-votes-usmca-support-workers-grow-local-economy-and
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-ruiz-votes-usmca-support-workers-grow-local-economy-and | Congressman Ruiz Votes for USMCA to Support Workers, Grow Local Economy, and Protect Environment | 2019-12-20 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Democrat | House | CA | Raul Ruiz | R000599 | ruiz.house.gov | ruiz | https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) voted in favor of the United States Mexico Canada (USMCA) Trade agreement passed by the House of Representatives yesterday to improve labor standards to grow American jobs, strengthen environmental protections, and increase investments to address water pollution along the U.S.-Mexico border. The USMCA includes more than $500 million for border water infrastructure programs to address pollution issues in waterways like the New River, which is a tributary to the Salton Sea. The final USMCA trade agreement came together following months of negotiations between the House Democrats' USMCA Working Group and the U.S. Trade Representative. The Working Group negotiated specifically for commitments from Mexico to increase their labor standards, to strengthen enforcement of labor and environmental commitments, and to remove provisions that could have locked in high drug prices for consumers. "NAFTA needed an upgrade to improve our local economy, protect our workers, and enhance environmental standards," said Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-36). "I voted yes on the USMCA only after hard-fought victories that strengthen labor standards, increase wages, improve environmental protections, and prevent Big Pharma from locking in high drug prices. In particular, this bill provides over $500 million to improve pollution in waterways along the border like the New River, which dumps polluted water into the Salton Sea. This agreement is a step in the right direction to level the playing field for American jobs and increase American exports to help our local economies." "The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce applauds Congressman Ruiz for his support of the USMCA," said Joshua Bonner, President and CEO of the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce. "USMCA will help to modernize the original NAFTA agreement and continue to strengthen trade with our two most important regional partners, Mexico and Canada. We appreciate the Congressman actively engaging our local business community throughout this process." Background: The United States, Mexico, and Canada signed the USMCA in November 2018. Since then, a Democratic Working Group comprised of nine House Democrats negotiated with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on four key issues with the USMCA: drug prices, labor, environment, and enforcement provisions. After months of tough negotiating, Democrats secured landmark changes to the USMCA for American workers, delivering a much stronger agreement than the first draft of the USMCA the Trump Administration had put forward. This agreement now has the strongest enforcement mechanisms of any U.S. trade agreement, as well as critical victories for workers, environmental protections, and lower prescription drug costs: | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-27T23:45:33Z |