Sign On Letter Opposing Fast Track for the TPP

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Dear Representative: [will also send Senate version w/ Senate bill number]

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The undersigned organizations urge you to oppose “The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act” (HR 3830).  This legislation would revive the outdated and unsound 2002 “Fast Track” Trade Promotion Authority mechanism.

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Indeed, the legislation replicates the broad delegation of Congress’ constitutional authorities that was provided in the 2002 Fast Track, undermining Congress’ ability to have a meaningful role in shaping the contents of trade agreements.

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The legislation includes several negotiation objectives not found in the 2002 Fast Track.  However, the Fast Track process that this legislation would reestablish ensures that these objectives are entirely unenforceable.  If this bill were enacted, the president could sign a trade agreement before Congress votes on it — whether or not the negotiating objectives have been met.   It would also allow the executive branch to write legislation not subject to committee markup that would implement the pact and alter existing U.S. laws so that they come into compliance with the rules of the trade agreement.   Additionally, if HR 3830 were enacted, trade pact implementing legislation would be guaranteed House and Senate votes within 90 days, with all floor amendments forbidden and a maximum of 20 hours of debate.

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Fast Track was designed in the 1970s when trade negotiations were focused on cutting tariffs and quotas.  Today’s pending “trade” agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), are much broader — setting binding policy on Congress and state legislatures relating to patents and copyright, food safety, government procurement, financial regulation, immigration, healthcare, energy, the environment, labor rights and more.  Such a broad delegation of Congress’ constitutional authorities is simply inappropriate given the scope of the pending “trade” agreements and the implications for Congress’ core domestic policymaking prerogatives.

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After decades of devastating job loss, attacks on environmental and health laws and floods of unsafe imported food under our past trade agreements, America must chart a new course on trade policy.  To accomplish this, a new form of trade authority is needed that ensures that Congress and the public play a much more meaningful role in determining the contents of U.S. trade agreements. Critically, such a new procedure must ensure that Congress is satisfied with a trade agreement’s contents before a pact can be signed and subjected to any expedited procedures.

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HR 3830 is an abrogation of not only Congress’ constitutional authority, but of its responsibility to the American people.  We oppose this bill, and urge you to do so as well.

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Sincerely,