Velazquez on Trade Promotion Authority

Washington, DC –Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) delivered the following remarks today on the House floor in opposition to "Fast Track" trade legislation:

"Mr. Speaker, once again we are being asked to vote for an agreement that will cost jobs, undermine environmental protections and erode workers' rights -- all in the name of so-called "Free Trade."

"This agreement is being negotiated in the dark, behind closed doors. That secretive process may benefit large, multinational companies and their lobbyists, but it does not help small manufacturers in Brooklyn. It does nothing for New Yorkers struggling to raise a family while keeping their jobs from being exported.

"When there's a bad process, we end up with a bad deal for American workers and we've seen that in the past. New York lost 374,000 manufacturing jobs since NAFTA and the World Trade Organization agreements.

"This vote comes down to a simple question – are you going to side with Wall Street, large corporations and their lobbyists? Or will you stand with working families in your district? I'll take the latter. Vote NO. I yield back."

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