Rep. Kaptur Heralds House Rejection of Fast-Track Legislation
Failed TAA deal would have paved the way for Fast-Track, Top Secret TPP
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) cheered today as the House of Representatives voted 126 to 302 to defeat wolf in sheep’s clothing TAA legislation that would have paved the way for the House to consider granting the Executive branch sweeping Trade Promotion Authority, sometimes called Fast-Track. Because of a unique House procedure, both TAA and TPA would have been required to pass for either to go into effect, meaning that failure of the TAA provision represents defeat of the TPA bill.
“Today’s vote is a resounding defeat for dangerous and irresponsible Fast-Track proposals, and opens the door for a new approach to U.S. trade,” said Rep. Kaptur. “The old model of NAFTA and the Korea-U.S. agreement have failed American workers for decades. Its effects have crippled our economy and outsourced millions of jobs from communities across Ohio and throughout the country. And every time it comes up for a vote, supporters ram it through Congress with the sweet promises of special interests and strong-arming by the Executive.
“Congress has a responsibility to regulate trade with foreign nations; our Constitution could not be clearer about this. And the American people have made it clear that they do not support Fast Track. Today, for the first time in a long time on this issue, the House of Representatives did the people’s work.
“Our cumulative trade deficit is over 10 trillion dollars today. That’s 10 thousand billion dollars not spent investing in U.S. manufacturing, not spent creating millions of good jobs, not spent training our workforce or growing our economy. Economic gains from trade have made the rich richer. That’s money that has never, and will never, trickle down to working families.
“Stopping TPA in its tracks paves the way for a new model for U.S. trade that creates jobs instead of outsourcing them, that lifts wages instead of driving them down, that treats workers fairly, and that supports liberty and the rule of law around the world. U.S. trade policy should be a boon to workers, not something that puts millions out of work and leaves working families with an inadequate safety net in the form of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). I urge the President and Fast Track supporters in Congress to see this vote as an opportunity for real progress and a new approach to U.S. trade.”
Recent polling shows 55% of Americans oppose granting Fast Track authority to the President.
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