WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 16, 2015) – Today, Trade Promotion Authority—also known as Fast Track legislation—was introduced in Congress. Under Fast Track, Congress gives up its traditional power to amend bad trade deals and it cannot send the agreement back to the executive branch with instructions for improvement. BlueGreen Alliance’s Executive Director Kim Glas released the following statement:

“Yesterday on Capitol Hill a broad coalition of over 1,200 union members, environmentalists and allies called on Congress to deny Fast Track authority for trade deals because it removes critically important checks and balances.

“Trade agreements should be fair, uphold labor standards that protect workers and their jobs, preserve environmental protections, and ensure consumer safeguards aren’t weakened. Fast Track would deny the ability of Congress to amend deals to achieve those things.

“The BlueGreen Alliance supports fair, transparent trade that doesn’t engage the U.S. in a race to the bottom. Fast Track is the opposite of that. That’s why it is wrong for our workers, economy and environment.”