Congresswoman Johnson Releases a Statement on the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement regarding pending House consideration of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Trade Promotion Authority (TPA):

"As it stands, the Senate-passed version of TAA currently under consideration by the House would have brought to a halt, efforts to grant the President the needed trade promotion authority critical to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex economy and that of the nation at-large. Specific clauses within the Senate TAA bill would have induced budget cuts to Medicare to finance the measure, which I along with my Democratic colleagues strongly oppose.

Without Democratic support, TAA cannot pass. In response, I, along with my colleagues supported the passage of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 which creates an alternative finance mechanism for TAA by means of enacting tougher tax enforcement measures in the African Growth and Opportunities Act. Once the Senate accepts the Trade Preferences Extension Act, Medicare cuts in the Senate-version of TAA would be rendered null.

To be clear, I vehemently oppose any cuts to Medicare or any reduction to current benefits. Today's vote in favor of the Trade Preferences Extension Act ensures that Medicare will remain untouched as we proceed to grant the President trade promotion authority and bolster economic growth and sustained prosperity for the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Americans at-large.

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