Chris Van Hollen: “Today's vote on the trade package that includes trade adjustment assistance and trade promotion authority, also known as…”

“Today's vote on the trade package that includes trade adjustment assistance and trade promotion authority, also known as fast track, represents a flawed and hurried process to expedite the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement that is almost at the finish line. We should not vote for a TPA that fails to include strong and enforceable negotiating objectives on currency manipulation, labor rights and does not address the investor state dispute settlement system, which could see corporations challenge government regulations in secret tribunals that leave taxpayers on the hook for the bill. I also strongly oppose using trade adjustment assistance as a bargaining chip to help pass a flawed TPA. I support providing assistance to workers displaced by trade but this bill should stand on its own merits and be improved on behalf of all workers before it is rushed through for a final vote. We must go back to strengthen TAA and TPA before moving forward on any future trade agreement that will have wide-ranging consequences for America's working class.”