Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08) today voted in favor of the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, H.R. 3688. Reichert submitted the following statement:

“I rise in strong support of the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. We must continue to open markets to encourage American companies to innovate and compete with their global counterparts. This grows our economy and creates jobs.

“I am proud to represent a district in Washington State that integrates our nation’s leading technology innovators with a vibrant and highly productive small business community. Opening new global markets gives them incentives to improve their products, produce more goods, and employ more American workers. I have seen these job-creating effects first-hand, with trade accounting for 1 out of every 3 jobs in my state.

“The Peru Trade Promotion Agreement will level the playing field and increase market access for American and Peruvian companies. It will grow our nation’s economy by more than $2 billion.

“I hope that the passage of this agreement finally advances our broader trade agenda in Congress. I am disappointed that it has taken more than 5 months since the bipartisan deal reached in May – and over one year since the Peru Free Trade Agreement was signed – for this measure to finally come to the floor.

“We cannot allow important pending agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea to languish as the Peru measure did. I urge my colleagues in the Majority to stop the delays and pass these free trade agreements. Let’s advance the trade measures needed to grow our economy, create jobs, and improve our relations with global partners.”

With Congressman Reichert’s support, the legislation passed the House 285-132. The legislation is still pending in the Senate.