Rep. Joyce, Industry Leaders Praise Passage of USMCA
Today Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) voted to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), which will have important benefits for Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District.
"With the potential to create jobs, promote economic growth, and help Americans succeed, the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement is a win for PA-13 and our nation," said Congressman Joyce. "Over the past year, I have traveled across PA-13 to meet with hardworking dairy farmers, manufacturers, small business owners, and community leaders who have urged me to support this commonsense trade agreement, and today I was proud to cast my vote in favor of the USMCA."
"Alongside President Trump, I will continue fighting to deliver on our promises to southcentral Pennsylvania and to the American people. My only regret is that today's vote is months overdue, delayed at the hands of Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats. Now that it has cleared the House, I urge the Senate to consider this trade deal expeditiously," added Congressman Joyce.
By securing greater market access for dairy and poultry exports, the USMCA will directly benefit the many hardworking farmers in PA-13, which is home to 20 percent of Pennsylvania's dairy farms and more than a quarter of the state's milk cows. Leaders in the agriculture industry, including the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), have thanked Congressman Joyce for his support of the USMCA.
"This holiday season will be a bit brighter for America's dairy farmers as today's vote brings us one step closer to finalizing USMCA and securing a more certain future for the dairy industry," said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. "Pennsylvania's dairy industry appreciates the work that Congressman Joyce has invested to ensure USMCA will provide expanded market opportunities and a more level playing field for dairy exports. Now we are counting on the Senate to act quickly and finalize USMCA in order to deliver its improvements to North American trade."
If ratified, the USMCA is estimated to create 176,000 new jobs in the U.S. economy. As a leader in the manufacturing industry, PA-13 will see new jobs and economic growth as a result of this agreement. The Association of Equipment Manufactures has expressed support for Congressman Joyce's work to secure a better and fairer trade deal for the many manufacturers in PA-13.
"The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is grateful to Rep. Joyce for his efforts to modernize and strengthen trade across North America and for his vote in favor of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement," said Dennis Slater, president of AEM. "The agreement ensures continued duty-free access to our industry's largest export markets, creates tens of thousands of new jobs, and adds $68 million to the U.S. economy. We applaud Rep. Joyce for his work to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of our industry, the local communities we serve, and the 48,000 hard working men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry in Pennsylvania."
Background:
The USMCA has been awaiting action in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than a year. During the 116th Congress, Rep. Joyce has made the passage of the USMCA a top legislative priority.
In August in Franklin County, Vice President Mike Pence praised Congressman Joyce for "leading the fight for free and fair trade."
Earlier this year, Congressman Joyce invited Somerset County farmer Glenn Stoltzfus to testify before the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship about the issues facing the dairy industry.
Read more about Congressman Joyce's support for the USMCA in the Huntingdon Daily News.
###