[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6180-6181]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL TRADE PRIORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on another matter, once the budget is 
approved, we will continue our work on the bipartisan Iran bill. Then 
it is my hope to turn to another bipartisan measure, the Bipartisan 
Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act--TPA.
  This bill would enhance Congress's role in the trade process while 
ensuring Presidents of either party have the necessary tools to secure 
strong, enforceable trade agreements for American workers. Here is why 
that is important. Without this bipartisan legislation, American 
workers and farmers, including from my home State of Kentucky, will not 
be able to reap the rewards of selling more made-in-America goods to 
places such as Europe and the Pacific.
  This is a bill we should all want to support. So it won't surprise 
anyone to hear this bill has substantial bipartisan support. It even 
passed the Committee on Finance on an overwhelming vote of 20 to 6--20 
to 6.
  But of course we have already heard of an attempt to stand in the way 
of this bipartisan effort to debate this legislation. We have already 
heard of yet another effort to make a partisan stand against a 
bipartisan accomplishment that would help grow opportunities for our 
constituents.
  So yes, some may oppose allowing American workers to compete and win 
in new markets. Some may not be all that excited about selling more 
products stamped ``Made in America'' to places such as Europe and the 
Pacific. But the reality is the American people deserve more 
opportunities, not more special interest roadblocks.
  That is why I plan, with the support of Members of both parties, to 
turn to the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and 
Accountability Act once we finish the Iran bill.

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