Bill Lee: “First, I thank the ranking member for yielding and, once again, for his tremendous leadership. I rise in strong…”

“First, I thank the ranking member for yielding and, once again, for his tremendous leadership. I rise in strong opposition to this bill and to once again say ``no'' to fast track. This legislation cynically uses a bill that would exempt retired Federal police officers and firefighters from paying a penalty on withdrawals from their retirement accounts if they retire after the age of 50. What does that have to do with fast track? Absolutely nothing--this is just plain wrong. What is more, we know now that the Senate is considering attaching the Trade Adjustment Assistance, or TAA, to the recently passed African Growth and Accountability Act, better known as AGOA, as a means to get this flawed trade package passed. That is why yesterday, my colleagues Congressional Black Caucus Chair Congressman Butterfield, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congressman Keith Ellison, and myself sent a letter to the Senate leadership expressing our opposition to what they are trying to do in using AGOA as a bargaining chip. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, June 17, 2015. Hon. Mitch McConnell, United States Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Harry Reid, United States Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Reid: We write to urge you to expeditiously pass H.R. 1295, the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, without attaching unrelated amendments.…”