DeLauro, CT Labor, Environmental, Business, Faith Coalition Rallies Against Fast Track Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership

NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) today joined Connecticut labor, environmental, faith and business leaders to talk about the damage Fast Track Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would have on Connecticut families.

“Fast Track limits public scrutiny, severely restricts debate on the floor of the House of Representatives and leaves Congress no ability to amend the text before it goes to a vote,” DeLauro said. “Despite claims that the bill introduced last week contains strong protections against labor, currency, environmental and human rights abuses, they are unenforceable. My colleagues and I did not get elected to Congress only to give up our constitutional duty to scrutinize legislation, let along legislation that puts jobs at risk.

“Connecticut and the United States face major challenges. When it comes to trade, we simply cannot afford more of the same. We need a trade policy that helps working Americans, instead of sending their jobs overseas, and treats transparency, labor rights, public health and the environment as fundamental, not as an afterthought.”

Lori Pelletier, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, said: “Workers across Connecticut are standing up for higher wages but Congress is considering legislation that will speed through corporate-driven trade deals. For decades, we’ve seen how fast-tracked trade deals devastated our communities through lost jobs and eroded public services. Connecticut can ill afford another bad deal that lowers wages and outsources jobs. That’s why Congress must reject Fast Track and maintain its constitutional authority and leverage to improve the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other trade deals.

Martin Mador, Legislative and Political Chair Co-Chair of the Sierra Club’s Connecticut Chapter, said: "We know from previous trade pacts like NAFTA the damage that fast tracking these pacts can create. We need to learn from the past, and get it right this time by slowing down and rejecting fast track."

The TPP is a proposed trade deal with eleven other nations that is unprecedented in its scope. It has been negotiated in a secretive manner, with very little input from members of Congress who work on the issues—such as the environment, worker rights, food safety and intellectual property—that are included in the deal. Fast track authority would enable the bill to be rushed through Congress without any ability for it to be changed. Legislation granting Fast track authority for the TPP was introduced last week and is expected to be considered later this week.


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