WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 15, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E., (WV-1) voted against giving President Obama more power to negotiate free trade deals with foreign countries. H.R. 1314, the Trade Act of 2015, would give President Obama authority to write comprehensive trade deals without any amendments by Congress and with limited debate.
“Didn’t we learn anything from NAFTA and CAFTA? The damage done by these free trade deals to manufacturing in West Virginia has been devastating. Just look at what it has done to steel, to the chemical industry as well as glassware and dinnerware manufacturers,” McKinley said.
“And just last week, the President admitted he intends to use trade as leverage in his hostility to coal and natural gas. That in and of itself threatens the coal industry, which has already been brought to its knees by this Administration.West Virginia families deserve better than trade deals cut behind closed doors with little input from Congress,” said McKinley.
“I’ve never been afraid to break with my party when it’s the right thing for West Virginia. Given President Obama’s track record of broken promises and circumventing Congress, why should the American people trust he is negotiating with their best interests in mind?” said McKinley.
“I support fair trade, not free trade. Trade has been beneficial to many parts of the country but not to West Virginia.” McKinley added. “West Virginia can ill-afford another unfair trade deal like NAFTA or CAFTA.”
