Isakson Statement in Response to President Obama Sending Long-Pending Free Trade Agreements to Congress

Oct 04, 2011

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., who serves on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, today made the following statement after President Obama on Monday evening submitted to Congress for approval the three free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia that have been pending for more than three years.

“I’m very pleased that the President finally sent the free trade agreements to Congress for a vote. I have strongly advocated these agreements because they will go a long way in promoting private-sector job growth in America without adding to the national debt. I am also pleased to move forward on these agreements because they are particularly good for agriculture, which is the engine of Georgia’s economy.”

Congress cannot vote on free trade agreements until the President officially sends them to Congress. These three trade agreements were ready to be sent to Congress three years ago, but President Obama waited until now to send them.

Isakson has long-called on President Obama to send Congress the pending trade agreements that, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission, could increase U.S. exports by more than $12 billion. The Congressional Research Service predicts that the South Korea agreement alone would create 280,000 American jobs.

The Senate is expected to begin debating the free trade agreements next week.