Senators urge House leaders to pass trade-assistance bill

The House passed an 18-month extension in December by voice vote but the Senate shortened the bill and bickered over other trade issues that halted the bill’s clearance by Congress. The program’s reauthorization must originate in the House.

Instead, a six-week extension was passed before the end of the lame-duck session, giving lawmakers until next week to determine the fate of TAA. 

Sen. Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) has said he will block TAA until the White House vows to move the free trade agreement with Colombia. 

“It’s irresponsible to pass trade agreements that close factories and send jobs overseas, and then turn our backs on the workers and communities these agreements affect,” Brown said. “We cannot allow TAA to expire next week, which is why I am urging the House to pass a long-term extension as soon as possible.”

The letter, which was sent to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp  (R-Mich.) and Ways and Means Committee ranking member Sander Levin (D-Mich.), urges leadership to “quickly introduce and pass a long-term extension of TAA” before it expires.

“TAA is a critical part of our nation’s competitiveness strategy.  It ensures that the workers affected by trade receive the support and training necessary to transition into new jobs in emerging sectors of the economy,” the senators wrote. 

In addition to Brown, the letter was signed by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Carl Levin (D-Mich.).