Ways and Means Chair Expects "Mock" Mark Ups of FTA Bills Soon
During remarks made to the Emergency Committee for American Trade, Representative Brady (R), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Trade Subcommittee, announced that he expects the Committee to hold “mock” mark-ups on the bills for the three pending free trade agreements (Korea, Colombia, and Panama) during the week of June 20, 2011.
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Highlights of Chairman Brady’s remarks on this issue include:
Wants FTA Implementing Legislation Submitted After Mock Mark-Ups
Now that Colombia has met the second tranche of its action plan, the Administration should send the implementing legislation packages1 (for the three pending FTAs) to Congress right after the Committee’s “mock” mark-ups. The plan would then be to hold formal mark-ups of the FTA implementing legislation and bring it to the House floor in July 2011.
Opposes “Straight Renewal” of Expanded 2009 TAA
A bipartisan deal on the renewal of TAA will not be reached as long as Democrats insist on renewing Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) as expanded in 2009 to service workers, etc. because many Republicans see it as costly and ineffective, and are demanding spending cuts.
(The Administration has said that it will not submit the pending FTAs until it reaches an agreement with Congress on renewing TAA as expanded in 2009.)
1the FTA, implementing bill, statement of administrative action, etc.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/14/11 news, 11061407, for BP summary of the USTR announcement that Colombia had met its June labor rights milestones.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 05/17/11 news, 11051720, for BP summary of Administration’s announcement on TAA.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 06/08/11 news, 11060827, for BP summary of Senate GOP leader calling for submission of three pending FTAs and dealing with the renewal of TAA separately.)
Brady’s remarks available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.