Senate moves Fast Track legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two days after the Democratic Senate rebuffed President Obama’s push for Fast Track trade authority the Senate moved forward on the Hatch-Wyden Trade Promotion Authority bill by a vote of 65-33. The bill would grant President Obama power to send signed trade agreements to Congress for votes with limited debate and no amendments.

Friends of the Earth Climate and Energy Program Director Benjamin Schreiber had the following response to today’s vote:

By voting away their authority to set trade negotiating objectives, the majority of our Senators chose corporate polluters over the American people. These trade deals would harm the environment, allow corporations to roll back government laws on fossil fuel exports and impede future action by Congress to protect the planet from climate disruption. A vote for Fast Track is a vote for climate disaster and an attack on our clean air and water.

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Contacto experto: Ben Schreiber, (202) 222-0752, [email protected]
Contacto de comunicaciones: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]