Senate ignores mass opposition to Fast Track

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Senate voted 60 to 37 to jump a procedural hurdle on the path that will send Fast Track trade promotion legislation to President Obama for his signature. Senators voted for the bill that will facilitate the later approval of the Trans Pacific Partnership, TTIP and other environmentally destructive trade deals now under negotiation.

Fast Track is widely opposed by the environmental community and broad swaths of civil society, including labor, civil rights, family farm, food safety, Internet freedom, senior citizen, public health and consumer advocates.

President of Friends of the Earth Erich Pica had this to say about today’s vote:  

Congressional approval of Fast Track trade promotion authority is a betrayal of the environment, working families and the public interest. The Senate vote today illustrates the raw power of wealthy campaign contributors, Wall Street financiers, Big Oil and other corporate polluters to put the will of corporations in front of people and the environment. President Obama and supporters of this trade deal are wrong on Fast Track and have alienated Americans who value good jobs and a clean environment.

Resources:
Letter from 44 environmental groups opposing Fast Track
Letter from more than 2,000 civil society groups opposing Fast Track

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Expert contact: Bill Waren, (202) 222-0746, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]