DelBene Statement on Trade Promotion Authority
Press Release
Trade Promotion Authority allows Congress to set conditions the administration must meet to receive an up-or-down vote on a trade deal. The legislation granting Trade Promotion Authority also directs the President to make the full text of the trade agreement public 60 days before the President signs it, and at least an additional 30 days before Congress would vote. Congress would then vote up-or-down on a trade deal negotiated by the administration. Passing Trade Promotion Authority does not pass any trade agreement itself; it must still be approved by Congress.
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today released the following statement on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA):
"The reason to pass Trade Promotion Authority is to require negotiators to develop the strongest and most progressive trade deal possible. This TPA bill is the best Congress has ever had in terms of setting high and enforceable environmental and labor standards, as well as bringing more transparency to trade negotiations," DelBene said. "This bipartisan bill directs the administration to meet nearly 150 congressionally mandated negotiating objectives, including standards on labor protections, the environment, human rights, congressional consultation and transparency.
"I've talked to large and small businesses, I've talked to labor and I've talked to environmentalists. It's my job to weigh the concerns and needs on all sides and then do what's best for Washington's First District, which is why I supported the TPA legislation. I didn't come to the decision lightly -- Washington is the most trade dependent state in the nation and 40 percent of our jobs depend on trade. However, I will not hesitate to vote against a trade deal if it fails to meet the needs of our region and the high standards described in this TPA."
During the past two years, DelBene has met with and written letters to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman numerous times to ensure he was working toward trade agreements that benefit the workers, farmers and businesses of Washington's First Congressional District.
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