Centrist House Dems back ‘fast-track’ deal

A group of 11 House Democrats signaled that they will support fast-track authority to streamline trade deals through Congress. 

The lawmakers — all members of the New Democrat Coalition — said Thursday that they are encouraged by reports that a top Senate Democrat had secured several of their key priorities in newly introduced trade promotion authority legislation.

{mosads}“These improvements create a new procedure for the House or Senate to stop bad trade agreements,” they said in a statement. 

Support for a fast-track bill in the House is scarce among Democrats. Those open to throwing their support behind a measure had been waiting until legislation was introduced. 

The House is expected to need support from about 30 Democrats to push a bill through the lower chamber. 

“We look forward to reviewing the exact language and working with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle as the bill moves through the process,” they said.   

Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Thursday wrapped up six months of challenging negotiations that were “not for the faint of heart” with panel Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

The group applauded the measure’s provisions that would strengthen Congress’s oversight of trade-deal shaping policy, increase transparency and congressional consultation and put labor rights and environmental protections at the core of any trade agreement. 

“A big question we must answer is whether the United States will continue to lead in the global economy,” they said. 

The lawmakers also highlighted the broader plan that includes reauthorizing Trade Adjustment Assistance and the African Growth and Opportunity Act as well as renewing the Generalized System of Preferences — all top agenda items for New Democrats. 

“We recognize the economic opportunity that fair trade can present, when it’s done in a way that respects core American values,” they wrote. 

The lawmakers are: Reps. Ron Kind (Wis.), Gerry Connolly (Va.), Jared Polis (Colo.), John Carney (Del.), Rick Larsen (Wash.), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), Cedric Richmond (La.), Mike Quigley (Ill.), Kurt Schrader (Ore.), Jim Cooper (Tenn.) and Brad Ashford (Neb.).