Farm groups urge House to vote for TAA
June 15, 2015 |02:17 PM
After the House of Representatives on Friday voted down a bill to renew trade adjustment assistance, which puts the bill to grant trade promotion authority to President Barack Obama on hold, a wide range of farm groups urged the House to vote for TAA during a possible revote this week, even though the record shows that few members of the House Agriculture Committee and House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee voted for it. (See following story.)
The National Corn Growers Association was the most direct.
“It’s time for Congress to put aside petty politics, and stand up for American agriculture,” NCGA President Chip Bowling said in a statement.
“We are disappointed by the House of Representatives’ inability to move forward with the full package of trade legislation,” Bowling said
“This is a blow to American farmers, livestock producers, businesses, and workers. We hope that both houses of Congress and the White House can quickly resolve their differences and find a path forward. This legislation would bring us one step closer to open markets and greater access to millions of consumers living beyond our borders.”
The House passed the trade promotion authority bill, and American Soybean Association President Wade Cowan said “The vote by the House today is an absolute win for soybean farmers in the United States, but it only gets us halfway to our goal without a compromise on TAA.”
“We call on Democrats and Republicans in the House to come together and resolve their differences on TAA so we can get back to the business of building strong relationships between American farmers and customers around the world,” Cowan said.
National Association of Wheat Growers President, Brett Blankenship made the following statement:
“I’m pleased that the House has the votes to approve trade promotion authority. For those voting yes, it was a courageous vote in favor of keeping American agriculture in the lead on international trade. Removing trade barriers and accessing international markets is critical for wheat farmers across the country, and I’m hopeful that House Leadership can find a path forward for concluding action.”
Western Growers Association President and CEO Tom Nassif commended the 24 members of the California, Arizona, and Colorado delegations who voted yes on TPA.
“We hope this vote indicates a growing desire by members on both sides of the aisle to reach out in the spirit of compromise and pass pragmatic legislation that addresses real economic issues,” Nassif said.
Only National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson, who has continually opposed TPA, praised the House action.
“Today’s vote was a clear signal that the fast-track authorities being negotiated for the president simply do not live up to their hype,” said Johnson.
“NFU is hopeful this action gives Congress the time to rethink granting the president the ability to bypass Congress’s constitutional check on trade negotiations, an ability that has served as a major setback for America’s workers, family farmers and ranchers and this nation’s future prosperity.”
Johnson said the U.S. trade deficit is “largely due to these flawed ‘free trade’ agreements” and that the deficit is a drag on the U.S. economy.
The National Corn Growers Association was the most direct.
“It’s time for Congress to put aside petty politics, and stand up for American agriculture,” NCGA President Chip Bowling said in a statement.
“We are disappointed by the House of Representatives’ inability to move forward with the full package of trade legislation,” Bowling said
“This is a blow to American farmers, livestock producers, businesses, and workers. We hope that both houses of Congress and the White House can quickly resolve their differences and find a path forward. This legislation would bring us one step closer to open markets and greater access to millions of consumers living beyond our borders.”
The House passed the trade promotion authority bill, and American Soybean Association President Wade Cowan said “The vote by the House today is an absolute win for soybean farmers in the United States, but it only gets us halfway to our goal without a compromise on TAA.”
“We call on Democrats and Republicans in the House to come together and resolve their differences on TAA so we can get back to the business of building strong relationships between American farmers and customers around the world,” Cowan said.
National Association of Wheat Growers President, Brett Blankenship made the following statement:
“I’m pleased that the House has the votes to approve trade promotion authority. For those voting yes, it was a courageous vote in favor of keeping American agriculture in the lead on international trade. Removing trade barriers and accessing international markets is critical for wheat farmers across the country, and I’m hopeful that House Leadership can find a path forward for concluding action.”
Western Growers Association President and CEO Tom Nassif commended the 24 members of the California, Arizona, and Colorado delegations who voted yes on TPA.
“We hope this vote indicates a growing desire by members on both sides of the aisle to reach out in the spirit of compromise and pass pragmatic legislation that addresses real economic issues,” Nassif said.
Only National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson, who has continually opposed TPA, praised the House action.
“Today’s vote was a clear signal that the fast-track authorities being negotiated for the president simply do not live up to their hype,” said Johnson.
“NFU is hopeful this action gives Congress the time to rethink granting the president the ability to bypass Congress’s constitutional check on trade negotiations, an ability that has served as a major setback for America’s workers, family farmers and ranchers and this nation’s future prosperity.”
Johnson said the U.S. trade deficit is “largely due to these flawed ‘free trade’ agreements” and that the deficit is a drag on the U.S. economy.
