Cong. Reichert Leads Key Trade Subcommittee

U.S. Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA) was recently named as the new Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. Rep. Reichert is the first Member of Congress from Washington State to serve as Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.

Rep. Reichert is co-chair of the Friends of TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) Caucus, member of the President’s Export Council and founder of the Congressional Freight Caucus.

 “I am very honored to have the opportunity to lead the Trade Subcommittee and champion some of the issues that have the greatest impact on Washingtonians. Washington State is one of the most trade-dependent states in the country with 40 percent of our jobs and more than $90 billion in annual exports connected to trade,” said Rep. Reichert.

“In the Eighth District alone, 77,100 jobs are supported by trade, and our growers, producers and businesses export approximately $8.6 billion in goods and services each year.  With the release of the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and our ongoing negotiations with the EU, this is a critical time for trade. As a long-time advocate of expanding trade opportunities, I will continue fighting on behalf of our workers, farmers and businesses across the country, because I firmly believe through high-standard trade agreements we see expanded opportunities for all.”

Cong. Reichert on Highway Bill Conference Committee

Yesterday, U.S. Congressman Dave Reichert was selected to serve on the conference committee for the long-term highway bill.

In this role, Rep. Reichert will work with other lawmakers from the House and Senate to negotiate and come to an agreement on legislation to reauthorize and fund the nation’s highway and transit programs.

After hearing news of his appointment, Rep. Reichert said, “I am looking forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle to complete a long-term highway bill. Doing so is critical for our roads, bridges, economic competitiveness, and public safety. Here in Washington State, folks not only depend on strong infrastructure to get to and from work, but with one of the nation’s leading trade economies, our growers and producers need a dependable, efficient freight and transportation system to move their goods safely to market. Today’s conference meeting will be an important step toward meeting these goals.”

Business and Agricultural Groups Welcome Release Of TPP Agreement Text

US Trade Representative (USTR) released the full text and chapter summaries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement early this morning. You can find it all on the USTR website, as well as on Medium, here.

 “We welcome the public release of the Trans-Pacific Partnership text and commend the Administration for having done so as quickly as possible,” said David Thomas, President of the Trade Benefits America Coalition. “A well-crafted TPP has significant potential to expand U.S. trade opportunities with some of the world's fastest growing markets – to the benefit of American businesses, farmers, and workers. We look forward to examining the agreement closely and continuing to work with the Administration and Congress as the TPP process moves forward."

TPP has the potential to reduce tariffs on 18K U.S. goods. We look forward to seeing how the TPP can help farmers, ranchers, and small businesses across the country. Trans-Pacific Partnership fact sheets, issue briefs, and chapter summaries can be found here, via http://bit.ly/1kcq7ma #TPP

US House Passed TPA!

UPDATE:  6-16-2015
Today, the House of Representatives voted (236-189) to give Congress until the end of July to hold another vote on TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance), a worker retraining program tied to the passage of TPA. 

As lawmakers continue to develop the procedural and legislative strategy to send TPA to the President's desk, our thanks to Pierce County's Members of Congress Reps. Dave Reichert and Derek Kilmer who voted for this bill. (Remember also Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell who voted in favor of TPA.)

ORIGINAL:
The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA, "fast track) by a vote of 219-211.  .  Hurrah!

However, the TPA legislation cannot move forward because the House failed to also pass Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which was a requirement of the rule governing the House debate.

There are a number of options for moving forward currently being weighed by House leadership.

These include voting to reconsider the TAA bill next week, or voting on separate TPA legislation in the House and Senate. Immediately after the House voted in favor of TPA, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) made a motion to reconsider the TAA part of H.R. 1314. A vote on that motion will take place June 15 or 16.

For now, we will be thanking those Members who voted in favor of TPA, and we encourage you to also reach out and thank your Representative for his or her support. 

• To see a full list of yeas and nays for TAA.
• To see a full list of yeas and nays for TPA. 

Please let us know if you have any questions.  Otherwise, we hope you have a great weekend!

FINAL SUPPORT ACTION NEEDED FOR TPA NOW

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TPA-2015 Keeps Congress in Control on Trade

The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015) keeps Congress firmly in control of the legislative process that implements trade agreements. In fact, Congress is making sure it has even more control than it did under TPA-2002.

TPA-2015:

Click here for an overview of the timeline and requirements under TPA-2015.

For information on the benefits of trade and U.S. trade agreements to America, click here.

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Call For Urgent Action on Reauthorization of Export-Import Bank

More than 1,000 companies and associations (Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber on page 11), representing businesses and their employees from all 50 states, today called on Congress for quick action on a long-term reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) in a letter coordinated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM),

“Failure to secure a long-term reauthorization of Ex-Im would amount to unilateral disarmament in the face of other governments’ far more aggressive export credit programs, which have provided their own exporters with significant financing support in recent years,” said the more than 1,000 companies and associations in the letter.

“If Ex-Im is not reauthorized before June 30, American companies would be put at a unique disadvantage in global markets, resulting immediately in lost sales and lost jobs. U.S. businesses of all sizes would be deprived of a vital financing source at a time when boosting exports is increasingly vital to growing our nation’s economy and jobs.”

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Ex-Im Bank Exec Presents Overview to W2W15

Ex-Im Bank Executive Erin Gulick spoke to the Chamber's Washington-to-Washington, D.C. 2015 Conference dinner Wednesday evening May 13.  In addition to her comments, she provided all attendees with a flyer summarizing the record accomplishments of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

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Congress Strengthens Control in TPA-2015

The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015) keeps Congress firmly in control of the legislative process that implements trade agreements.

In fact, Congress is making sure it has even more control than it did under TPA-2002.

What Role Does Congress Play? First, TPA-2015 instructs the President to follow Congress’s priorities in trade negotiations – and to consult with the House and Senate along the way. But if that doesn’t work, Congress can still act.

What Can Congress Do? Under the legislation, for the first time, either house of Congress can vote to turn off TPA procedures for that chamber if a trade agreement does not meet TPA requirements.

And If That Doesn’t Work? Congress still has the final word on every trade agreement that benefits from TPA – if Congress doesn’t like an agreement, it can vote it down.

For information on the benefits of trade and U.S. trade agreements to America, click HERE.

Chambers Across Nation Support TPA

Following is the letter to Congress, the Senate Finance Committee and the press in support of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which the Tacoma-Pierce Co.  Chamber signed. 

Voicing your support with your Congressional delegation in support of this TPA legislation is critical, this week particularly to Senators on the Senate Finance Committee and Representatives on the House Ways and Means.  A comprehensive library of resources making the case for TPA can be found below, including a link to send a letter.

UPDATE:  4-22-2015:  The Senate Finance Committee markup has been postponed until later today (likely around 4pm EDT) due to an objection by Senator Bernie Sanders regarding the committee meeting for more than two hours while the Senate is in session.