Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Rochester today, pushing legislation for harsher international trade policies for the auto parts industry.
Gillibrand spoke at the United Auto Workers union on Dewey Avenue. She says her new bill would combat what she calls "unfair" Chinese trade practices.
And she says she's calling on the president to investigate more than $20 billion in subsidies the Chinese government has given to its auto industry, "The administration must determine the appropriate response based on the investigation, including considering direct engagement with Chinese government to resolve the issues, submitting the case to WTO arbitration, which would rule on the validity to of the subsidies an suggest appropriate remedies, or using U.S. trade laws to enforce a remedy."
Gillibrand says if the bill is not passed, the current tariffs would become invalid -- threatening 80,000 auto parts manufacturing jobs in the U.S.
Gillibrand is up for re-election this fall. She could face one of three Republicans vying for the GOP nomination: Town of Rye supervisor Joe Carvin, Manhattan attorney and judicial activist Wendy Long and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos.
Click on the video box below to see some of Gillibrand's remarks at her appearance in Rochester.