World Ag Expo, exchange students come to the Valley

Tuesday marked the start of the Central Valley’s 53rd annual World Ag Expo. Hosted by the International Agri-Center in Tulare, the World Ag Expo displays the latest in farm equipment from more than 1,450 exhibitors, drawing over 100,000 visitors. With Congress in session this week, I unfortunately had to miss this year’s World Ag Expo. However, my staff attended and enjoyed celebrating the Valley’s farming expertise.

Back in DC, I was honored to meet with students from the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program on Wednesday. Administered by the State Department, the FLEX program awards scholarships to a select number of high school students from Europe and Asia to spend an academic year in the United States, living with a family and attending an American high school.

These students – from Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine – are enjoying their time at Mt. Whitney High School, Redwood High School, and University Preparatory High School in Visalia. I hope they will develop a lifelong connection to the Central Valley and their host families!

Looking ahead after a successful State of the Union

On Tuesday, President Trump delivered his State of the Union address. As President Trump demonstrated, the United States is thriving. The economy is booming for working Americans of all backgrounds, our nation has been made safer by eliminating terrorists like Qassem Soleimani, and we achieved bipartisan successes on criminal justice reform and the USMCA.

While Tuesday night provided an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s successful last three years, we must continue to pursue reforms that improve Americans’ lives. To that point, I am introducing legislation to increase transparency in our healthcare costs. Titled the Fair and Honest Advanced Cost Estimate for Patients Act, this bill requires healthcare providers and facilities to work with insurers to provide a cost estimate for scheduled services directly to individuals. Thus, both privately insured and uninsured individuals will no longer be blindsided by the cost of their healthcare services. I am hopeful this bill will be another bipartisan triumph for the American people.

Tax reform keeps delivering for Americans

On Tuesday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its Budget and Economic Outlook for 2020-2030, which provides Congress with an unbiased 10-year budget projection and measures the nation’s economic health. Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which House Republicans passed and President Trump signed into law in 2017, America’s economy is roaring.

The report affirms that Republican pro-growth policies have created more jobs and increased wages for American workers while reducing the federal deficit by a projected $705 billion over the next decade. I’m eager for Congress and President Trump to build on these successful policies and keep the economy growing for all Americans.

Coming your way: USMCA

Next Wednesday, President Trump will sign the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law. After being needlessly held up by House Democrats for a year, the Senate last week passed USMCA by an overwhelming vote of 89 – 10. Once signed into law, USMCA will generate over $68 billion in economic activity, create 176,000 new jobs for American workers, and, for the first time, open Canadian markets to American dairy products. With this great deal, alongside his recent trade deal with China, President Trump is delivering on his promises to put America first and dismantle unfair trade barriers on U.S. farmers and workers.

An historic China trade deal

On Wednesday, President Trump signed an historic Phase One trade agreement with China. This trade deal culminates a three-year-long effort by the Trump administration to rebalance our trade relationship with China. Prior to this deal, the U.S. trade relationship with China suffered from cybertheft of U.S. intellectual property, forced technology transfers, and inadequate market access to U.S. businesses.

With this Phase One trade deal, China has committed to purchasing roughly $200 billion of U.S. goods while promising to implement structural reforms and other changes to their economic and trade regime. In particular, the deal dramatically expands U.S. agriculture and food exports to China. I’m optimistic this Phase One trade deal will usher in free and fair trade with China and bring economic growth to the Central Valley. I look forward to the Trump administration’s continued efforts to deliver strong and enforceable trade deals for all Americans.

Delivering USMCA for American workers and farmers

Today, with my support, the House of Representatives voted to pass the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). I have long believed that trade is vital to the Central Valley’s economic health. With its passage, USMCA will generate over $68 billion in economic activity and produce 176,000 new jobs for American workers. Moreover, agricultural products that had zero tariffs under NAFTA will continue to be tariff free, while American dairy farmers will now have access to previously unopened Canadian markets. Modernized for the 21st century, USMCA will deliver tremendous economic benefits to the Central Valley. You can watch my remarks on the passage of USMCA by clicking here.