U.S. Congressman Mike Conaway
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Yesterday the House passed legislation approving
trade promotion authority or TPA.
The bill establishes an unprecedented level of consultation and transparency requirements ensuring that Congress and the American people know the full impact of any trade agreement. It also gives clear instructions for trade negotiators to follow while establishing additional consequences for failing to comply including withdrawal of TPA.
I commend Chairman Ryan for putting together a TPA bill that paves the way for negotiating new high-standard free trade agreements while simultaneously ensuring we hold the Administration accountable. This bill includes the strongest measures to date for ensuring that the President sticks to the negotiating objectives laid down by Congress and prevents President Obama from acting unilaterally.
Trade is incredibly important to agriculture with exports accounting for nearly one-third of total U.S. farm income. With 95 percent of the worlds population residing outside of the United States it is imperative that the U.S. works to expand market access while eliminating international barriers to trade. With TPA in place our negotiators will have the credibility necessary to conclude the most effective trade agreements possible.
This measure has received widespread conservative support. Texas Senator Ted Cruz expressed his support for TPA in an opinion editorial he wrote for the Wall Street Journal
which can be found here. A coalition of 26 conservative activist groups including Americans for Tax Reform Crossroads GPS Citizens against Government Waste and the American Conservative Union sent a letter of support
which can be read here. You can find these resources and more information about TPA from the
Ways and Means Committee here.
