Smith Responds to Trade Promotion Authority

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to give Congress the authority to direct and oversee Presidential trade negotiations through Trade Promotion Authority.  However, because a vote on further trade-related provisions failed, the House did not pass the legislation.  The bill remains in the House for possible future consideration.
“I am pleased the House demonstrated strong support for ensuring oversight and direction of the administration’s trade agenda,” Smith said.  “I will continue working to hold the President accountable while improving access for Nebraska producers to the 96 percent of consumers worldwide who live outside our country.  We cannot sit idly and leave a commercial and political vacuum to be filled by other countries.”
Smith is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade policy.
House Floor Remarks as prepared:
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Trade Act of 2015.
We have the opportunity to remove major barriers which make it harder to sell U.S. products to consumers in other countries. 
To grow our economy we must improve our access to the 96 percent of consumers outside the United States. Nebraska’s producers want to serve new markets, and this bill is an important step forward.
A number of concerns have been raised by this bill’s opponents, and I want to clarify a couple points.
Many Nebraskans are rightfully concerned about the President’s actions. To address this concern, we should pass this bill and establish more than 150 congressional parameters the President will be required to follow as he negotiates trade agreements.
Opponents claim no one has been allowed to read proposed trade agreements. We should pass this bill to ensure every member of this body has full access to negotiating texts and any final agreement is publicly posted online for sixty days before the President can sign it. 
Finally, we have been told this bill hands away congressional prerogatives. However, this bill ensures we have an up or down vote on any trade agreement and contains a new provision allowing us to block agreements if the President doesn’t follow our rules.
This bill is an important step for opportunity, transparency, and accountability. I urge a yea vote and yield back the balance of my time.