Kildee Responds to Chamber of Commerce's Claim that Free Trade Agreements Have Helped U.S. Workers

Contact: Erin Donar
(202) 225-3611

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives about a recent Chamber of Commerce report that claims that free trade agreements have created 5.4 million jobs. Congressman Kildee asked to know where these jobs are, because Michigan certainly hasn’t seen the benefit. The Congressman’s statement is as follows:

“I rise today in response to the Chamber of Commerce’s recent claim that U.S. free trade agreements have supported 5.4 million jobs.  I want someone to show me where those 5.4 million jobs are, because they certainly aren’t in Michigan or my district.

Michigan has the highest unemployment in the country and in my hometown of Flint, the unemployment rate is nearly 30%.  At one time, we had 80,000 auto jobs, now we have about 6,000. And with every new free trade agreement, we continue to send more jobs overseas and put American workers at a greater disadvantage. 

Come to my district and I will show you the empty fields that used to employ thousands of American workers before NAFTA, which I opposed. Our trade policy might help create jobs and improve the quality of life for workers in other countries, but not in the United States.”

Click here to view the video of the Congressman’s statement.