That now includes critically mportant changes offered by democratic members in order to ensure that its enforcement stronger, that a protects American Workers, and that it protects American Workers and Lowers Health costs prescription costs. This will remove the uncertainty created by the tariff policies pursued by the president. I am glad that our House Democratic working group was new provisions to ensure that americas trading uphold the rights of orkers to unionize and bargain collectively. I am glad this agreement includes strong, Rapid Response that willt mechanisms allow us to block imports filths where these facilities where these commitments are violated. And this congress will be closely monitoring the enforcement of this new certain that ake the administration is doing its ob and workers rights are protected. I want to thank Speaker Pelosi, hairman neal of the ways and Means Committee, ambassador ighthizer who represented the administrati administration in his way. Ghtforward
Minute. Mr. Hoyer this vote today, madam speaker, is a reminder was even while the house working on a serious matter regarding the president s abuses of ity for office, we are still working hard to deliver on our promises the American People to focus on economic opportunity. Nd in this instance, we are working together. The usmca agreement before us is vast improvement over the first version shown to us by team. Ent trump and his we worked together. That now includes critically mportant changes offered by democratic members in order to ensure that its enforcement stronger, that a protects American Workers, and that it protects American Workers and Lowers Health costs prescription costs. This will remove the uncertainty created by the tariff policies pursued by the president. I am glad that our House Democratic working group was new provisions to ensure that americas trading uphold the rights of orkers to unionize and bargain collectively. I am glad this agreement includes strong, Rapid
Prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] will be er the house in order. The prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. Pray. In conroy let us god of the ages, we give you hanks for giving us another day. We continue to ask you to be peoples re in the house. Olitical energy is high, yet, we ask that you bless the members with wisdom and as they continue toward the end of the first session. Work to be completed result in blessings for our the funding of the government for the next year. Send a healing pirit upon this assembly, upon our nation. Much harsh language and have been heard in the chamber. Ambassadors of peace and reconciliation so that hope inicans might have a united future. May all that is done be for your honor and glory. Amen. Speaker pursuant to Section House resolution 758, the days of the last proceedings is approved. The pledge of allegiance will be ed by the gentlewoman from california, mrs. Torres. Mrs. Torres please join after me. I pledge alle
Speak the ways and Means Committee will now come to order good morning we will consort considered a historic usmca the high watermark with trade deals moving forward it is the result of more than one year House Democrats and the ambassador light heiser who worked with us every time we met. Im very proud of the outcome we have reached. When we assume the majority this year we were asked to consider a renegotiated nafta in a number of areas including enforcement the environment and access to medicines that we start with enforcement as noted many times i did not vote for the original nafta and the chief reason was the lack of enforceability. The past 25 years we have seen the shortcoming much of which comes down to lack of enforcement in my view the improvements to the usmca finally makes the agreement enforceable n by preventing a country to block a nation dispute settlement attempt. Nafta has been symbolic and over 25 years there have been 39 petitions filed with zero enforcement action
Vote vote vote the presiding officer are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . If not the yeas are 83. The noes are 9. The motion is passed agreed to. Mr. Grassley madam president . The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley ive got a couple of issues i want to speak on. One would be trade and section 232 issue. That would be my second one. The first one, i want to speak about commonsense entitlement reform. In the past year weve seen a flurry of drug pricing proposals. Im encouraged by efforts from my colleagues here in the senate, especially Ranking Member wyden, colleagues in the house that agree in the house of representatives who agree with this effort to reduce drug prices and the president of the United States who has already been involved for a year and a half in lowering drug prices. All have made lowering Prescription Drug costs one of the Core Principles of our efforts and particularly a core principle for this administration