Infrastructure & Trade

Trade is a major driver of the Texas economy and that is why Congresswoman Garcia supported the USMCA. Mexico and Canada are two of Texas' biggest trading partners, accounting last year for nearly $230 million in total trade. Trade with Mexico and Canada also supports about 1 million jobs in Texas, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The renegoatiated USMCA:

• Removes "Sustained or Recurring" Requirement so that acts of anti-worker violence can be more easily confronted and violations enforced.
• Creates a new presumption that a labor violation affects trade and investment and will require the other government to prove otherwise.
• Establishes Labor Attachés that will be based in Mexico and will provide on-the-ground information about Mexico's labor practices.
• Establishes key benchmarks for Mexico's labor reform implementation process. Failure to comply with these benchmarks will lead to enforcement action under the agreement.
• Leads to penalties on goods and services that are not produced in compliance with the freedom of association and collective bargaining obligations.
• Creates a presumption that an environmental violation affects trade and investment and will require the other government to prove otherwise.
• Establishes Environment-Focused Attachés in Mexico City that will regularly monitor Mexico's environment laws, regulations, and practices.

The Congresswoman also fought to ensure that the USMCA included reauthorization of the North American Development Bank, which funds environmental projects along the U.S.-Mexico border. She also supported the reauthorization of the Export Import Bank, which supports U.S. companies exporting overseas.

Congresswoman Garcia is also supportive of the House Democrats' bold Moving Forward Infrastructure proposal. As part of this new proposal, she will fight to ensure that it includes language on the Port of Houston that will allow it to:

• Widen and deepen the Ship Channel.
• Streamline a public private partnership for dredging operations along the Ship Channel.

For more information concerning work and views related to infrastructure and trade, please contact our office.