Vern Buchanan: Expect Free-Trade Agreements in Ways and Means Next Week

A member of the Republican congressional majority from Florida turned up the heat on President Barack Obama to get serious about three free-trade agreements currently stalled in Washington.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan urged passage of the agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. Buchanan, Floridas only member of the Ways and Means Committee, said that the committee was poised to move on the agreements, perhaps as early as next week.

"Passage of these long-stalled FTA's would be a major win for Florida," said Buchanan, who sits on the Trade subcommittee of Ways and Means and serves as chairman of the Panama Caucus. "Creating jobs and growing the economy are the most important issues facing us today. If we expand our exports, it will help Florida's economy as we send our goods, services and products to people around the world. In turn, this will help generate new jobs right here in our backyard."

Buchanan expressed hope that Congress could get started on the three agreementsbefore the end of June. "Consideration of all three trade agreements is imperative if we're serious about competing in the global marketplace," said Buchanan. "We've waited long enough. The time to act is now."

A study from the U.S. International Trade Commission found that the three agreements could lead to an increased $13 billion in exports and around 250,000 new jobs in the U.S.