News from Congressman Arrington

News from Washington and Across West Texas 

Dear Friend,

This week, we marked 18 years since one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. On 9/11 everything changed, and even today, we are reminded that there is evil in this world and there are people who are hostile to America’s ideals and want nothing more than to destroy our way of life. Although terrorists thought they could weaken and divide us, they only revealed the strength and unity that is the foundation of America.

In the days and weeks that followed September 11, we weren’t Republicans or Democrats, left or right, rural or urban: we were Americans first. In that spirit of bipartisanship, this week Members from both sides of the aisle gathered on the steps of the Capitol Building to hold a moment of silence and sing “God Bless America” in remembrance of those we lost and to let their families and loved ones know that they will never be forgotten. Click here to watch some of my thoughts and reflections on 9/11.

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Need to Pass USMCA Now
With Congress back in session, one of the most pressing legislative priorities for me this Fall is ratifying the more fair and modernized North American trade agreement, the USMCA. To that end, this week I had a great meeting with United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, on the need to pass this critical trade agreement.

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Here in the Lone Star State, we lead the nation in trade, exporting $315 billion worth of goods in 2018 alone, and the lion’s share of Texas trade is between our neighbors to the North and the South. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer, this modernized trade deal will ensure that our free trade relationship with Mexico and Canada continues to flourish in the years and decades ahead.

While Speaker Pelosi has so far refused to bring USMCA up for a vote, with over 170,000 new jobs, almost $70 billion in economic activity, and an additional $2.2 billion in annual agriculture exports on the line, the costs of delaying passing USMCA are growing each day and are too great for Congress to allow partisan politics to stand in the way. No one knows this more than our hard-working farmers and ranchers, and to show the steadfast support the agriculture community has for USMCA, I was proud to join my colleagues and Farmers for Free Trade at a rally for USMCA this week.

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While growing our economy and creating new jobs, passing USMCA will also send a shot across the bow to Beijing and a clear message that, under this President’s leadership, we are finally serious about preventing China and other countries from taking advantage of our workers, businesses, farmers, and manufacturers. I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get USMCA across the finish line before the year is out!

Win at the Southern Border
This week, President Trump got a big win as the Supreme Court ruled the Administration can deny those claiming asylum in the United States if they fail to seek protection in the first safe country they pass through on the way to our border.

Our broken asylum system is one of the many loopholes in our immigration laws that are being taken advantage of by people trying to come into our country illegally, and closing this loophole will significantly bring down fraudulent asylum claims that are putting a severe strain on our nation’s immigration system as well as our brave border patrol agents.

Thanks to the President’s policies, along with help from the Mexican government, we are already starting to see illegal border crossings decrease following a surge in the spring and early summer. I will continue to support this President as he works to restore our the rule of law in our country.

Big Country Cattleman
It’s the end of an era in Abilene, as Randy Carson of the Abilene Livestock Auction recently sold the business he has owned since 2000 and which he has been a part of for the past half-century.

Thanks to Randy’s work and that of good people like him, Texas is cattle country. In fact, in Texas we raise over 13 million cattle, which is more cattle than 43 states have people! Randy has been an essential part of the agriculture community in Abilene but, more importantly, Randy personifies our deep-rooted, pioneering West Texas values – and it is those values, rather than government, that are at the heart of our greatness as a nation.

Congratulations, Randy, on a well-earned retirement!

Please know, it is an honor to be your Representative. Feel free to reach out to my office and let me know how I can best serve you.

Your friend and fellow West Texan,

Jodey C. Arrington
Member of Congress

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