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Senate Votes to Advance “Fast Tracking” of Dangerous Trade Agreement

The US Senate voted 62 to 38 yesterday to advance “fast track” trade legislation, just one week after Senate Democrats filibustered the controversial bill that would allow President Obama to force Congress to vote up-or-down on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

via Backbone Campaign
via Backbone Campaign

The TPP is a far-reaching trade agreement that has faced staunch opposition from a broad coalition of labor, environmental, women’s rights, and human rights groups. These groups charge that the agreement not only threatens US jobs, but it threatens environmental regulations, food and safety standards, workers’ rights, and access to affordable medications.

The deal, which has been negotiated in near-secrecy, has also been heavily criticized by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). Fast-tracking TPP would prevent lawmakers from addressing concerns in the agreement by offering amendments. It would also prevent Congress from having significant input into US trading partners. That is a big concern, especially since among the countries included in the TPP is oil-rich Brunei, a country that adopted a vicious new penal code last year that threatens the rights and lives of women, lesbians, and gay men.

The penal code, which is being implemented in phases, calls for fines and imprisonment for women who become pregnant outside marriage, women who have abortions, for adultery, and so-called “indecent behavior.” Once fully implemented, Brunei’s strict draconian penal code would punish women who engage in same-sex sexual relations with whipping, fines, or imprisonment. The code will also impose flogging or death by stoning for men engaging in sex with men and for extramarital sex between men and women. Women are often more likely to be victims of stoning because of deep-seated gender bias and discrimination.

Fast-Track will now proceed to a final vote in the Senate where it is expected to pass. The legislation will then have to be taken up in the House. Earlier this month, the Feminist Majority released a petition asking people to urge their Senators and Representative to vote against Fast Track and oppose the TPP.

Media Resources: Washington Post 5/21/15; Feminist Newswire 5/1/14, 6/9/14, 7/9/14, 12/8/14, 2/19/15

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