On May 22 the United States Senate passed legislation providing trade-promotion authority (TPA) -- or "fast track" for trade bills -- not just to the current president but to whomever next sits in the White House. A vote on the bill is expected in the House in the coming weeks.
I remain strongly opposed to fast-track authority that would make it impossible for Congress to amend -- and very difficult to stop -- the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other future trade deals that threaten American workers as well as consumer, health, and environmental protections. I have been able to read portions of the TPP proposal, and reading the text has only increased my concerns.
I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House to defeat TPA, and I am confident that the legislation will be defeated in the House.