Skip to main content

Rep. Sánchez Introduces "Trade Act" with Rep. Michaud, Sens. Brown and Dorgan

June 4, 2008

Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-Lakewood) teamed with fellow representative Mike Michaud (D-ME), and U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) today to introduce the Trade Reform Accountability Development Employment Act.

The TRADE Act would mandate a congressional review of all existing trade agreements. The bill also provides a process for the United States to begin renegotiating those agreements to promote fairness.

"For far too long we have been using trade agreements to help multinational corporations," Congresswoman Linda Sánchez said. "This bill puts the emphasis back where it should be: providing quality jobs at home, while offering our global trade partners the opportunity for sustainable development."

As a Co-Chair of the House Trade Working Group, Congresswoman Sánchez had led House efforts against unfair and unproductive trade agreements. If the legislation is enacted, it would provide guidelines for the negotiation of future trade agreements and a review process for existing ones. The legislation places a high priority on labor and environmental standards, while ensuring national security will not be compromised.

"We need to fundamentally change our trade priorities," Rep. Sánchez said. "The current trade model has decimated American jobs and resulted in contaminated, and sometimes deadly, defective imports because not enough emphasis was placed on these policy areas."

The TRADE Act is supported by a number of organizations including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, of which Congresswoman Sánchez is a member. Other organizations supporting the bill include the National Farmers Union, Friends of the Earth, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Steelworkers, Americans for Democratic Action, Communications Workers of America, Global Trade Watch, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, National Family Farm Coalition, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Action, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and UNITE HERE.