Rep. Napolitano Votes to Protect Families & Jobs, Opposes Unfair Trade Agreements

(Washington, DC) Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte), voted to protect San Gabriel Valley families and jobs by opposing Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which would give away Congressional authority to finalize trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

“Free trade hurts San Gabriel Valley families and businesses and is anything but free. We cannot keep running up deficits and ask hardworking Americans to bear the costs. We have seen in our region the devastation trade agreements have caused our middle class families, displacing workers and shipping local jobs overseas. These agreements are unfair to U.S. workers and small businesses. They benefit huge corporations and foreign countries while limiting opportunities at home, and TPP would do much of the same. We should be focusing on passing a long-term transportation bill that will create local jobs and improve our roads, bridges, and public transit systems. It is critical we have reliable infrastructure to remain competitive in the global economy."

“To further insult hardworking Americans, TPA or Fast Track would ensure TPP and other trade agreements are negotiated in secret, without public input until deals are finalized. This strips me of my ability to protect the hundreds of constituents who have contacted my office opposing TPP; they are rightly concerned. Fast Track is undemocratic, and TPP is the wrong deal for America. Instead we should be promoting fair trade that will protect American jobs, strengthen our democracy, and safeguard workers’ rights at home and abroad.”

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