May 19: Kaptur Reacts to U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Report on the U.S. Free Trade Agreement

Congresswoman Kaptur, a member of the House Trade Working Group, made a statement on the House floor in response to the U.S. Chamber ofCommerce's recently released report that claims U.S. free trade agreements havesupported more than 5 million jobs.

Reacting to the report, Congresswoman Kaptur asked, "Isthis some sort of cruel joke? Are we talking about the same country?" NAFTA and NAFTA-like trade agreements havepromised more jobs in the U.S.and a rise in the standard of living. However, these agreements have led to anincrease in the trade-deficit and a sharp reduction in manufacturing jobs, as U.S. workers and companies are forced tounfairly compete against state-managed capitalism in places like Mexico, Chinaand Japan.

"Take Ohio:Since 1994, employment just in the manufacturing sector has declined byone-third. Companies like Silgan Holdings, Delphi,Georgia Pacific, GM, DixonTiconderoga, and Champion Spark Plug all have moved to Mexico," saidKaptur on the House floor this morning. "It is time to wake up, stand up forthis country and renegotiate those agreements that keep moving our jobsoffshore."

Click on the video below to watch the Congresswoman's floor speech.