Americans Should Oppose the Trade Promotion Authority Bill

House GOP Leadership has decided to bring to the floor of the House today, the Trade Promotion Authority bill (also known as fast-track negotiating authority) that passed the House last Friday by a vote of 219-211.

Americans should oppose the passage of Trade Promotion Authority until and unless the texts of the various trade agreements under consideration are made public for a period of time sufficient to allow the public to review them.

Please urge your Member of Congress to VOTE AGAINST H.R. 2146 as amended by the Rule.

 

Procedurally, here's what's happening:

Today, the House will vote on a rule to allow H.R. 2146 to come to the floor with an amendment proposed by Congressman Paul Ryan. The amendment is the exact language of the Trade Promotion Authority bill that passed the House last week. The title of H.R. 2146 is Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act. The original bill was meant to benefit the retirement plans for firefighters.

Why would House Leadership want to attach the Trade Promotion Authority language to the firefighter's bill? Because who could possibly vote against the firefighters, right?

H.R. 2146 has already passed the Senate, which means the Senate would not have to invoke cloture with a 60 vote threshold after the House amends the bill and sends it back. This means it could go back to the Senate and pass with just 51 votes. This is how they intend to pass Trade Promotion Authority.

Nevertheless, America citizens should oppose the passage of Trade Promotion Authority until and unless the texts of the various trade agreements under consideration are made public for a period of time sufficient to allow the public to review them.  

 

 

 

 

God bless,

JohnnyD