Long, House Pass Vital' Trade Legislation

Statement

The House of Representatives passed Thursday legislation to provide transparent, streamlined free trade agreement negotiations,

The legislation includes Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which would force a president to submit any negotiated trade deal to Congress prior to finalization for approval. TPA, a policy used since 1934 and last expired in 2007, gives a president authority to negotiate deals in line with specific trade objectives and sets a mechanism for Congress to reject trade deals not meeting the goals.

"Free trade is vital to the U.S. economy and is an important policy to strengthen our standing on the world stage. Free trade agreements are negotiated through the Executive Branch, which is indeed a concern with the track record of the Obama Administration's foreign and economic policies. Many southwest Missourians have told me they do not trust President Obama to negotiate trade deals. I do not trust him either, which is exactly why we need TPA in the form it has been passed," Long said.

H.R. 2146, the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, would grant a six-year authorization of TPA, set 150 trade objectives and require trade deals be made public 60 days prior to Congress acting to approve or reject. Deals not meeting the objectives outlined in this bill will be denied "fast-track authority' and would be subject to congressional amendment.

"Congress would ultimately have the final say on trade deals, allowing the American people to hold their elected officials accountable. This upholds our Constitutional authority to check and oversee the Executive Branch and to regulate commerce with foreign nations," Long said.

"Free trade helps American businesses access the 96 percent of the global market residing beyond our borders. Free trade agreements put American workers on a level playing field with others who do not adhere to our rules. In other words, we set the standards for global trade -- not countries like China. We can make sure Americans get the best deal possible. We can grow the more than $680 million free trade impact on Missouri's Seventh District. We can get more Ozarks-, Missouri- and American-made products to people around the world."

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