For Immediate Release: December 12, 2019
Contact: Lee Morrow, [email protected], 202-601-7871

Catholic Social Justice Lobby Endorses New US-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Sr. Simone: “USMCA is a more faithful fair trade agreement that counteracts the sins of NAFTA.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After months of negotiations, House Democrat leaders working with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office have achieved a significant breakthrough in US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations. The final changes, secured by Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Neal, will enhance worker protection and enforcement, remove giveaways to the pharmaceutical industry improving access to affordable prescription drugs, and take steps to protect the environment. This progressive fair trade deal is a victory for working people, and the Catholic Sisters and activists of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice ask Members of Congress to vote yes. NETWORK issued the following statement:

Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice said:

“For 25 years, religious communities have witnessed how NAFTA hollowed out the U.S. economy, ended millions of jobs at home, and forced Mexican farmers to leave their land and their nation. NAFTA worked for big corporations padding their bottom line at the expense of workers. NAFTA left the workers and farmers behind. Because of the advocacy of thousands of people and the hard work of Congressional Democrats, workers will have a chance to thrive. The final text of the USMCA is a more faithful fair trade agreement that counteracts many of the sins of NAFTA.”

Laura Peralta-Schulte, Senior Government Relations Advocate for NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice said:

“President Trump’s original USMCA text included huge giveaways to big pharmaceutical companies, locking in high drug prices in the U.S. and exporting bad pharmaceutical policies to our trading partners. After months of negotiations with consumer and labor activists, those giveaways to big pharma are gone. This new agreement ensures that Congress will have the opportunity to lower drug prices through legislation. Lawmakers must call for faithful trade deals founded on the principles of solidarity, justice, and human dignity. The final negotiated text of the USMCA meets the criteria of a faithful fair trade deal and should be supported.”

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NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice – advocates for justice inspired by Catholic Sisters – educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation. They have a nearly 50-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good. www.networklobby.org