FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2009
Oregon Congressmen Join Charge for Real Change Reform
Reps. DeFazio and Wu Among 108 Cosponsors of “The TRADE Act”
PORTLAND, OR — Oregon Congressmen Peter DeFazio (D-4th) and David Wu (D-1st) are among 108 cosponsors of trade reform legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday with the support of the many of the nation’s leading labor, environmental, family farm and consumer organizations. The Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment Act — or TRADE Act, for short — was introduced just weeks before President Obama is expected to give a major address outlining his new approach to international trade policy.
“The general public has long understood that trade agreements like NAFTA have done more to hurt than to help the U.S. economy,” said Arthur Stamoulis, director of the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign. “The TRADE Act would go a long way towards ensuring that future trade deals actually benefit ordinary Americans and strengthen our economy. Congressmen DeFazio and Wu deserve praise for their leadership on this issue. Hopefully, the Obama administration will hear the Democratic Caucus’ call for real change when it comes to trade policy.”
The 2009 TRADE Act establishes a process for reviewing and renegotiating existing trade agreements; sets criteria for what must be included in future trade agreements; and reasserts Congressional authority in the trade policymaking process. Issues covered by the legislation include labor rights, the environment, food safety, human rights, financial regulation, national security and more.
The list of cosponsors spans 33 states, and includes 8 prominent committee chairs, 45 subcommittee chairs, 19 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, 17 members of the Blue Dog Caucus and 13 “New Democrats.”
“The IAM applauds these one hundred and six members of congress for keeping their promise to reform our nation’s trade laws,” said R. Thomas Buffenbarger, President of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). “They understand that the status quo is unacceptable as millions of manufacturing jobs are lost and as our trade deficit continues to soar. We know that trade is important and the TRADE Act is a serious effort to make trade laws work for U.S. workers.”
“This bill maps out a fair path forward, detailing what we support in a good agreement,” said Katy Ziegler Thomas, Vice President of Government Relations for the National Farmers Union. “It breaks ground on ensuring America’s farmers and ranchers will have a level playing field when it comes to global trade.”
Brett Blackwelder, President Friends of the Earth U.S., added his accolades, noting “Trade agreements should support, rather than undermine, environmental protection. The TRADE Act encourages responsible behavior from trading partners, providing a blueprint for a more sustainable way to move goods and services across borders.”
For more information on the TRADE Act, visit: www.citizenstrade.org/ctc/oregon/.