Fast Track passes Senate

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Fast Track passes Senate
The Fast Track Authority bill, otherwise known as trade promotion authority or the Andean Trade Preference Expansion Act, passed the Senate on May 23 after months of controversy and debate. The corresponding bill passed by the House in December is designed to give the president power to negotiate international trade treaties that Congress can then approve or reject, but not amend.

President Bush has stated one of his specific goals of his trade negotiating authority is to enact the Free Trade of the Americas Act (FTAA), which would eliminate most tariffs on trade between the U.S. and Latin America.

The bill hit a snag in the Senate May 14 when Senators Larry Craig (D-Idaho) and Mark Dayton (D-Minnesota) introduced and passed an amendment that would give the Senate the power to split trade bills into separate titles when issuing Congressional approval. Specifically, the Craig/Dayton amendment provides for separate Senate votes on any titles in trade negotiation that threaten existing antidumping laws and other current trade statutes. Essentially, it means Congress can take apart a bill, exactly what Fast Track hoped to avoid. The amendment passed via voice vote.

On May 22, Vice President Dick Cheney cast a vote in the Senate to prevent another amendment from passing. It was a provision for low-cost loans to workers who lose their jobs because of industries moving to foreign countries. Several other amendments with provisions for displaced workers, like subsidized health care, were rejected as well.

The bill will now pass into committee where it will most likely be subject to more debate over the Senate's controversial amendment on separating titles of a bill. The Associated Press reports that because the Craig/Dayton amendment passed by voice vote only, as opposed to roll call, it will give Republican committee members an advantage in striking the provision from final legislation. —Tara Dix

For more information:
8th Day Center for Peace and Justice
Center of Concern
Government website
AFL-CIO statement
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

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