[CTC] LCV letter scoring Fast Track vote

[Arthur Stamoulis]

 http://www.lcv.org/assets/docs/lcv-letter-opposing-hr-1314.pdf <http://www.lcv.org/assets/docs/lcv-letter-opposing-hr-1314.pdf>





 
June 10, 2015
 
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
 
Re: Oppose H.R. 1314 -- Fast Track of Trade Agreements Threatens Our Environment

Dear Representative,

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) works to turn environmental values into national priorities.  Each year, LCV publishes the National Environmental Scorecard, which details the voting records of members of Congress on environmental legislation.  The Scorecard is distributed to LCV members, concerned voters nationwide, and the media. 
 
LCV urges you to vote NO on H.R. 1314, the Trade Act of 2015, which would approve “fast track” trade promotion authority for international agreements. 
 
Fast track allows the administration to send already-signed international trade deals to Congress for an up or down vote with limited debate and no amendments, severely hampering Congress’ ability to ensure these agreements benefit communities, workers, and protect our environment. Fast track was first used in the 1970s when trade deals were far narrower. Today’s trade deals are massive agreements that have enormous implications for environmental policies and protections around the world. As such, they deserve a far different process than fast track: a process that is transparent and allows for real debate.
 
Many provisions under negotiation in pending trade deals could undermine important progress on top environmental concerns. For example, the automatic approval of natural gas export permits to countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and the chapter on chemical regulation being discussed for inclusion in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) threaten to undermine progress on environmental issues both in the U.S. and abroad. Provisions on regulatory coherence could result in a regulatory “race to the bottom,” and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions would allow multinational corporations to sue in special trade tribunals over domestic environmental and public health laws they allege undermine their investment. Furthermore, even when recent trade deals have included strong environmental provisions, enforcement has proved to be a major challenge.  
 
Congress should ensure that U.S. involvement in trade negotiations is transparent, democratic, and results in a “race to the top” that makes real, enforceable progress on environmental and public health issues. H.R. 1314 does not achieve these objectives. We urge you to vote NO on this legislation and will consider including votes on this bill in the 2015 Scorecard. 
 
Sincerely,

Gene Karpinski
President




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