Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., is urging passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and says it will play "a critical role in the revitalization of our automobile industry."
She made her comments in a column posted by the Washington Examiner on Tuesday.
"Provisions in the agreement jump-start new investments in the auto industry, create new well-paying jobs here at home, and protect hardworking Americans from being undercut by cheap labor abroad," she said.
"My home state of Missouri houses one of Ford's assembly plants, building the company's most profitable model, the F-150 line. Many of our communities depend on a robust auto industry, and the passage of the USMCA will help create just that."
Citing figures from the U.S. Trade Representative's office, she said "implementation of the USMCA will spur new, massive investments in the auto manufacturing sector worth approximately $34 billion over the next five years."
Hartzler also noted that "new investments worth nearly $23 million will go into U.S. auto part purchases and promoting automobile research and development." She pointed out that "more investment will be directed towards the research and creation of cleaner, energy-saving automobiles."
She said these investments will create 76,000 new jobs in the U.S.
"Under the new USMCA, we are creating a freer, fairer, global economic environment for American-made automobiles to thrive," she said. "The USMCA is the right deal for Missouri and the right deal for America.
"I hope Congressional Democrats will join with my Republican colleagues to pass this agreement."