Republicans Saturday pushed for passage of legislation that would give President Obama the power to expedite trade deals with other nations.
Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said in the GOP weekly address that the legislation would speed up a broad trade deal with Japan and 10 other nations, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
‘Trade promotion authority is good for America,” Isakson said. “It’s good for our country and it’s good for our economy. And it’s good for middle-class American families who will reap the benefits of more jobs.”
The trade deal has become one of the most contentious pieces of legislation in Congress, with most Democrats and a significant faction of Republicans either opposed to it, or undecided.
Republicans in favor of it are using their powers in the majority to promote its passage.
Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe touted the agreement before a joint session of Congress after being invited to speak by Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who is in favor of it.
In the weekly address, Isakson said 1.2 million jobs in Georgia are tied to international trade.
Isakson said his stake is expanding Savannah Harbor to accommodate larger ships that will come to Georgia via the Panama Canal, which is allowing the passage of larger vessels.
“This project will make the city of Savannah, the state of Georgia, and the entire Southeast a hub of global imports and exports,” Isakson said. “But if we don’t pass trade promotion authority, we will risk losing all those goods and services they carry going elsewhere around the world.”
The Senate Finance Committee earlier this month approved Trade Promotion Authority legislation. It must now pass the full Senate.
House lawmakers lack the votes to pass the bill, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said last week.
Republican leaders have called on Obama, who backs the deal, to “step up” efforts to sell the proposal to Democrats, who oppose it in large numbers.
Democrats believe the deal will hurt U.S. jobs and point to past agreements, including the NAFTA, as evidence.
Among the opponents is House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who is backing substitute legislation authored by House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Sander Levin, D-Mich., which gives Congress more power to approve new trade agreements.
Obama did not mention the trade deal in his weekly address, which was focused on expanding free educational opportunities.
In the GOP’s weekly address, Isakson said the current deal does not exclude Congress from having a say over trade agreements and said Obama will not be allowed to include provisions changing immigration law without congressional input.
“Every trade agreement will still be scrutinized by your representatives and by the senators in Congress,” Isakson said. “Republicans will not support any attempt to override U.S. law by sneaking extra provisions into any trade agreement. That includes provisions on immigration policies.”
