Jones Votes Against Unconstitutional Obamatrade

Press Release

Today, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) voted against H.R. 2146, the Trade Authorities and Accountability Act, which would give President Barack Obama "fast track" Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to negotiate trade agreements such as the classified Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP). The bill passed the Senate 62 to 37 last month, and passed the House today 218 to 208. It now goes back to the Senate for further action, which is expected next week. In recent weeks, President Obama and House leadership have been working hand in glove for passage of TPA, which would allow Congress to obstruct the process the Constitution establishes in Article 2, Section 2, Clause 2 for approving treaties, which says: "The President shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur." Trade Promotion Authority prohibits trade treaties from being amended or filibustered, and are passed by a simple majority, not the 67 votes needed in the Senate to ratify a treaty as specified by the Constitution.

"I am extremely disappointed that the House of Representatives has not listened to the American people and given President Obama a blank check on trade. I strongly oppose giving fast track to any president, particularly President Obama. For the past six years he has ignored Congress, repeatedly abused his executive authority and flaunted the law on ObamaCare, amnesty for illegal aliens, and many other things," said Congressman Jones. "Given his record, I am astonished that some of my colleagues were so eager to fork over even more of their constitutional authority for him to abuse."

"TPA paves the way for the secret TPP deal, and our experience with NAFTA, which resulted in over 700,000 lost American jobs, and other poorly negotiated trade deals make it reasonable to expect that TPP would cause tens of thousands of Americans to lose their jobs. I will continue to fight against these harmful trade deals."

Amid concerns about TPA and TPP, on June 10th Congressman Jones sent a letter to Congressman Paul Ryan, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, urging Congressman Ryan to put pressure on the White House to release the text of TPP so that Congress and the American people could be fully informed on what the trade agreement entails, especially if it is considered under a "fast track." That request was denied. Read Congressman Jones' letter to Congressman Ryan below.

Congressman Jones also voted against TPA last week when it was brought to the House floor as part of a package with the Trade Adjustment Assistance bill, which he also voted against.

For more information on TPA and TPP, read Congressman Jones' op-ed published in the Carteret News Times this month.

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