Agricultural News
TAA Fails- TPA Passes- and the US House Pushes Resolution into Next Week
Fri, 12 Jun 2015 14:18:41 CDT
Trade Promotion Authority is not dead. The US House apeared to kill any chances for President Obama to get "Fast Track" authority as Democrats desserted the President in huge numbers- led by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in the vote for TAA. There was expected to be first a vote on the section of the overall bill meant to appeal to Democrats- the extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs that provide cash and technical assistance to workers, farmers and businesses harmed by surges in imports. For the House to vote on TPA proper, it had been announced that the TAA would have to pass the House. The Senate earlier this month had approved both TAA and TPA
It became clear as Congresswoman Pelosi announced her opposition to TAA, saying it was time to slow down Fast Track, that the vote on TAA would go against the President. It turned out to be a huge no vote on a measure that has been linked with Trade Promotion Authority for years- given as an olive branch to Big Labor to bring enough votes along for TPA passage. TAA failed by a vote of 126 for and 302 opposed.
Then the unexpcted happened. The GOP Leadership decided to hold a vote on Trade Promotion Authority even though TAA had failed. Democratic lawmakers say that caught them off guard- a five minute vote was held and Trade Promotion Authority was approved 219- 211.
Technically, since the House did not approve both measures, the bill as passed the Senate is dead and does not go to the President. However, there was a call for reconsideration of the vote on TAA- that vote was postponed into next week and if it somehow is approved next week- the package could go to the President as it would be the same language as already approved by the Senate.
Reports are saying that the GOP Leadership believes that they could pass a stand alone TPA. Democrats who rushed to vote no on Trade Adjustment Assistance may be forced to rethink their vote to continue the assistance that Labor has always demanded to help people adjust when trade changes the makeup of US industry.
The Oklahoma Delegation saw only Congressman Tom Cole vote for TAA, while Frank Lucas, Steve Russell, Markwayne Mullin and Jim Bridenstine were a part of the 302 votes no. For the TPA measure, it was a three to two vote- Cole, Lucas and Mullin voting aye and Russell and Bridenstine voting no.
The first agricultural group that has jumped out with reaction to the TAA defeat was the National Farmers Union. As staunch opponents of TPA- the NFU is likely less than happy with the second vote of the day that approved the TPA portion of this legislative package. Here is their release issued after TAA failed:
"National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson applauded today's House vote that effectively kills at least for now Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), also known as fast track authority. TPA would grant the administration the ability to secretly negotiate trade deals and only permits an up or down vote by Congress, with zero amendments.
"Today's vote was a clear signal that the fast track authorities being negotiated for the president simply do not live up to their hype," said Johnson. "NFU is hopeful this action gives Congress the time to rethink granting the president the ability to bypass Congress's constitutional check on trade negotiations, an ability that has served as a major setback for America's workers, family farmers and ranchers and this nation's future prosperity."
On the opposite side of the issue- the American Soybean Association welcomed the second vote that approved TPA. In a statement, the ASA called on the US House to come up with a compromise on TAA.
ASA President Wade Cowan, a soybean farmer from Brownfield, Texas, noted that the passage of the bill provides certainty for producers of the nation's largest farm export, but means nothing if TAA isn't resolved in a way that allows the bill to move forward:
"The vote by the House today is an absolute win for soybean farmers in the United States, but it only gets us halfway to our goal without a compromise on TAA. Since 2007, our negotiators have been without the biggest weapon in their arsenal, and they've still done an exceptional job of representing American interests abroad. Now, we're one step away from equipping them with the most important tool to establish and expand our role in the international agricultural trade. TPA has always been step one as we look to forge strong agreements that help to make American agriculture and soybean farmers in particular so competitive in international markets.
"The House's disagreements over trade adjustment assistance threaten to stand in the way of the fast track authority we need to finalize an agreement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership that includes vital export markets for U.S. soybeans and meat products, as well as the developing markets that grow in their demand for American soy every day. With an administration empowered by TPA, we can also participate fully in the active crafting of agreements between the world's major traders that has been going on largely without us since TPA lapsed in 2007.
"Soybean farmers and indeed all of American agriculture has a critical stake in the global farm trade, and the House is to be commended for its work today, which helps to protect that stake. We call on Democrats and Republicans in the House to come together and resolve their differences on TAA so we can get back to the business of building strong relationships between American farmers and customers around the world."
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