WASHINGTON, June 18, 2015 – The House approved a fast-track trade bill, 218-208, breaking a weeklong impasse.
Twenty-eight Democrats broke with the rest of their party and voted for the legislation.
A broader, Senate-passed trade bill bogged down last Friday after the House rejected a section that would extend Trade Adjustment Assistance programs, which are set to expire Sept. 30.
After days of discussions with the White House and pro-trade Democrats, GOP leaders committed to splitting the bill and passing the TAA extension separately from the fast-track, Trade Promotion Authority section, which was approved Thursday.
The new TPA bill (HR 2146) still must be approved by the Senate. The TAA extension is to be attached to other legislation.
