Senate GOP Leader Calls for Submission of FTAs, TPA Renewal
On June 7, 2011, during remarks on the Senate floor, Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Hatch (R), called on the Administration to send the pending free trade agreements1 with Korea, Colombia, and Panama to Congress, and deal with the renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) separately.
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(The Administration has stated that it will not submit the pending FTAs1 until it reaches an agreement with Congress on renewing TAA consistent with the 2009 expansion of TAA to service workers, etc. See ITT’s Online Archives or 05/17/11 news, 11051720, for BP summary.)
Hatch Says FTAs Needed by Summer, Before the Election Season
Senator Hatch also warned that the window for the Administration to submit the pending FTAs1 will soon pass and, given the upcoming election season, he is concerned that if the FTAs are not submitted in summer 2011, they never will be submitted.
Senator Hatch expressed the belief that each of the FTAs1, standing on its own merits and with the full backing of the White House and Congressional leadership, would pass.
McConnell Says TPA Needed for New FTAs, Link TAA with TPA Instead
In addition, McConnell called on the President to ask Congress to renew Trade Promotion Authority (also known as Fast Track, which expired on July 1, 2007), stating that if the President is serious about doubling exports and increasing jobs, he should seek TPA renewal and Congress should approve it. According to McConnell, without TPA, Congress may not consider future FTAs.
McConnell further stated that any discussion about renewing TAA should be part of the debate on TPA, which has traditionally been the vehicle for TAA.
1the implementing legislation packages.
Senator Hatch's press release available here.