Schakowsky Statement on the Failure of the Trade Agreement Package

Washington, DC– Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement after the Senate trade agreement package failed to pass the House of Representatives:

“Today the House voted to derail ‘fast track’ authority that would not only be used to push through a highly-flawed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement but that would prevent Congress from amending trade pacts for the next six years.

I was proud to join with my colleagues in voting no and to work closely with labor, consumer, senior, environmental and faith-based constituencies in working to reject this deal. We need fair trade agreements that benefit workers here and around the world, protect our planet, and promote access to affordable medicines and safe food. We need fair trade agreements that allow U.S. workers – the most productive in the world – to compete on a fair playing field and that end currency manipulation.

Today’s vote demonstrates our belief that the ongoing TPP negotiation does not meet those tests. I hope that it will send a strong signal that the American public and Congress reject the TPP trade deal and want it renegotiated to meet the needs of the American public.”