WASHINGTON, DC — In remarks last Thursday before a breakfast meeting of The Ripon Society, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (LA-1) called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to schedule a vote on the landmark trade agreement that’s been reached between the United States, Mexico, and Canada, saying the delay is causing the U.S. to not only lose out on jobs, but lose its competitive advantage, as well.

“We should’ve gotten this done months ago,” the Louisiana lawmaker stated. “Mexico already ratified it. It’s better for American workers. The unions love it. It’s not perfect to everybody, but it’s better for this country than the current NAFTA. Every day we wait, we’re losing jobs and we’re losing competitiveness.”

“Every day we wait, we’re losing jobs and we’re losing competiveness.”

According to Scalise, Congress is also about to lose a window of opportunity because of Canadian politics.

“They’ve got their elections coming up later this year,” the Whip observed. “Their parliament has already left, and they wanted us to do this months ago. It should have been done months ago. If Speaker Pelosi sets a date on the House floor for this to come up, I will get the votes to pass it. It might be primarily Republican votes. It should be everybody who votes for it, but of course it’s not going to be. We’ll get the votes to pass it. But she won’t set a date.

“And it’s not just in the United States that this matters. Mexico wants this deal. Canada wants this deal. If you can’t do this? We’d love to go to Japan and get a deal with Japan and our other Asian friends. And go to Europe. But if you can’t get this one? This is the easiest thing you can do. This is a layup. It should have been done months ago. I hope it gets done soon. But look, every day you get closer to the Canadian elections, the likelihood of getting them to come back – I mean, do you really want to force Canada to come back and bring their parliament back in September when they’ve got elections in October? That’s irresponsible to put them in that position. It should have been done months ago.”

To view Scalise’s remarks about the USMCA before The Ripon Society discussion last Thursday, please click on the link below:

The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 — Ripon, Wisconsin.  One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success.  These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.