Subject: Fw: Update on today's House TPA vote
From: Charlie Baker <[email-masked]>
To: John Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2015 21:32:39 +0000

From: Linda Moore<mailto:[email-masked]>
Sent: ?Friday?, ?June? ?12?, ?2015 ?5?:?09? ?PM
Cc: Mike Ward<mailto:[email-masked]>, Brian Weiss<mailto:[email-masked]>, Lauren Burson<mailto:[email-masked]>

Dear TechNet member:

I wanted to provide you an update on what did (and didn't) happen regarding Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) today in Washington.  The House undertook some unusual procedural votes on Friday, which has created some confusion about the status of the legislation.

Here is what happened:

On Friday, the House chose to debate the Senate-passed TPA bill.  The House split the Senate's bill into two separate pieces covering: Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), providing help to workers displaced by trade, and TPA.  Note: both pieces needed to clear the House together (pursuant to a House rule) in order to ultimately be enacted into law.

Significantly, TPA did narrowly pass 219-211.  That is good news.  However, House Democrats voted overwhelmingly to oppose TAA (a program they traditionally support), joining Republicans to sink the worker training programs supported by President Obama.  This defeat effectively stopped the underlying progress on TPA or "fast track."

Going forward, there are a few options:

1. The House accepts defeat and proceeds to other legislation;
2. The House votes again on TAA (in fact, Speaker Boehner took the rare step of preserving the procedural option to revote);
3. The House sends TPA (without TAA) back to the Senate for consideration.

TechNet expects the House will explore options two and three as early as next week.  If you have any questions about the above news, please don't hesitate to contact Mike Ward ([email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>) or me.

Sincerely,

Linda

--
Linda Moore
President & CEO
TechNet
202-650-5104<tel:202-650-5104>
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>