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Legislative Updates

Fast Track update

Following lots of twists and turns in the debate over how to consider Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)—better known as Fast Track—and related bills (including Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) and Customs Enforcement), it seems that the Senate is off and running in how it will consider TPA and what it will take to get it across the finish line in the Senate.

Here’s the bottom line: With Senate procedures being murky and confusing, NALC knows that beginning next week on Monday night (May 18), there will be a lot of activity on the Senate floor regarding consideration: debate, amendments and general confusion. It is expected that the Senate will resume consideration of the TPA and TAA, which will be linked together to achieve an expected 60-vote threshold, making passage in the chamber imminent.

As you recall, the Obama administration is knee-deep in negotiations with Pacific countries over what’s known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), as well as with European countries over the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

To secure these, Obama is calling on Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), also known as “Fast Track.” If Fast Track passes, it means that when TPP and TTIP come up for a congressional vote, the two trade deals could only be voted up or down, without amendments.

For more information regarding NALC’s opposition to Fast Track, click here. And please be sure to stand by for a possible call to action as things unfold next week.

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