WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the Senate floor today, Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, voiced his support for the Colombia, Panama and South Korea Trade Agreements, saying the agreements will aid the economy and create thousands of Kansas jobs.

“Finally, the president is putting action behind words to open markets for American goods and services,” said Roberts. “For five years the U.S. trade agenda has been put on hold while political points were made and additional demands for increased federal spending were shoe-horned through Congress.”

Together, the pending trade agreements equate to $13 billion in additional exports and an estimated 25,000 jobs. From the Ag perspective, the three pending trade agreements represent $2.5 billion upon full implementation and more than 22,000 jobs. The Kansas Farm Bureau estimates that the three agreements in total are expected to increase direct exports by $130 million dollars for Kansas Ag producers and an additional 1,150 jobs.

During his speech, Sen. Roberts said passing these three trade agreements was just a start, and that the Congress needs to pass more trade agreements to stay globally competitive.

“As Kansans and the rest of our nation continue the slow and bumpy climb out of these tough economic times, we must do all that we can to foster economic growth,” said Roberts. “Opening foreign markets to U.S. goods, services, and agricultural is an obvious and long overdue part of the solution. But we can’t stop with passing these three trade agreements, pat ourselves on the back and call it a day. Let’s not become pacified with the long overdue action. In order to stay competitive with our foreign partners, we need to stay in the game.”

The Senate is expected to vote on the trade agreements later tonight.

Click here to watch Sen. Roberts' floor speech or press play below.

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