In an unprecedented move, Congressman Mike Michaud was selected today by the House Rules Committee to control debate time in opposition to bills implementing trade agreements with South Korea and Panama. These trade deals, in addition to one with Colombia, will be considered on the House floor next week.

It's extremely rare for members of Congress not on a committee of jurisdiction, in this case the Ways and Means Committee, to be selected to manage debate time during consideration of bills on the House floor. Michaud requested the debate time from House Speaker John Boehner and the House Rules Committee, which is controlled by the Republican leadership.

"I appreciate the opportunity to manage floor time," said Michaud, Chairman of the House Trade Working Group. "My perspective on trade agreements is not from the beltway, it's based on my own experiences and what I've heard from my constituents since I've been in Congress: that they cost us jobs. It's critical that their concerns are heard on the floor of the House. These three free trade agreements, especially the one with South Korea, will undermine U.S. manufacturing at a time when we need to rebuild it. In Maine alone, we've lost forty percent of our manufacturing base since NAFTA, and I want to ensure that members of Congress hear all viewpoints during the debate next week."