Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – December 24, 2019

While impeachment was certainly the focal point on Capitol Hill this week, Congress addressed several other issues as well. On a positive note, the House finally ratified the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which will have a profound and beneficial impact on our rural communities. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum in an effort to fund the government before Christmas, our Chamber also rushed to pass a spending bill which will add substantially to the deficit. It was a week full of ups and downs, but through it all, I remain committed to fighting for residents of Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District.

Impeaching a President:
Despite the Judiciary Committee failing to find evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors, the House voted to impeach President Trump. Hearsay, speculation, and inferences are not enough to remove a duly-elected President from office, and therefore, I voted against the Articles of Impeachment. Democrats in Congress failed the American people this week.

To read a more detailed description as to why I opposed the flawed and troubled Articles of Impeachment, click here.

USMCA Ratification:
One year after being signed, the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) finally took a step closer to being enacted when the House passed this important trade deal. The measure creates a more level playing field for American workers, strengthens agricultural trade, and modernizes intellectual property protections. USMCA is a win for American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses and will create 176,000 new jobs and add $68 billion to the U.S. Economy.

This approval follows closely on the heels of announced trade deals with China and Japan that will be a boost to Sixth District constituents. Japan has agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on $7.2 billion of U.S. food and agricultural products, which will help U.S. beef, corn, pork and other farmers. Further, while talks to finalize the deal are still in the works, China has committed to buy $32 billion in U.S. agriculture products over the next two years and will reduce tariffs on a number of agricultural goods. I am confident that between USMCA and new trade deals such as these, that our nation’s farmers and producers will thrive.

Reckless Spending:
With the House passage of two funding bills, totaling a combined 2,313 pages, the body once again abdicated its responsibility to deliberate and consider 12 separate Appropriations bills. While there were aspects of the bills that I support, I could not in good conscience vote for the $1.4 trillion funding package – especially considering the legislation hinders the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to effectively do their job, provides no funding for additional border patrol agents, extends the Ex-IM Bank, all while failing to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal and replace Obama-Care.

Further, this massive bill was released less than 24 hours before Members were asked to vote on it. My colleagues and I were not afforded the time to appropriately review the legislation despite its contents significantly and recklessly adding to our national debt. Congress must get its fiscal house in order to truly move this nation forward.

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Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Congressman. If my office can ever be of assistance, please contact my Washington office at (202) 225-5431.