House Republican leaders aren’t ready to take up the “Fast Track” trade bill passed last month in the Senate, but a vote could be scheduled in June, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Monday.
“Nothing has been decided yet as we move forward,” McCarthy told a group of reporters on Monday. “It’s my intention we’ll get that done this month.”
The House has struggled to find enough support to pass the trade promotion authority legislation, which would give President Obama expanded powers to secure international trade deals. The so-called TPA bill would let Obama negotiate trade agreements that can’t be amended by Congress, and can only be approved or rejected as is.
Most House Democrats oppose the legislation, which they say would hurt jobs and damage the economy, particularly in manufacturing states. A faction of Republicans are also against the deal, and together they make up enough of an opposition front to keep the measure from passing.
McCarthy suggested he wanted to put some distance between the vote on TPA and last week’s recess, when lawmakers were home talking to constituents.
McCarthy told reporters he is working with his own rank-and-file to build support. “We’ll regroup this week and push through,” the California Republican said.
