What They're Saying: The New Democrat Coalition is Working for a Job-Creating Trade Agenda
Working for a Pro-Growth, Export-Oriented Trade Agenda
Wall Street Journal: “On Thursday, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman pressed for progress on Capitol Hill, saying Congress needed to show it could approve an agreement so that Asian negotiating partners would be willing to make concessions, according to lawmakers who spoke to him. "A lot of these countries—there's a big ask being made of them, and they're not going to be willing to stick out their neck unless they're confident this Congress can get it past the finish line," said Rep. Ron Kind (D., Wis.) after meeting with Mr. Froman.”
Bloomberg BNA: “New Democrat Coalition leaders Dec. 11 voiced support for a strong trade agenda, including reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) and renewal of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)…The Coalition wants to support a robust trade agenda as the 113th Congress moves forward, Kind said, adding that the group was anxious to see the text of any TPA legislation that is introduced. ‘We expect that shortly,’ he said.”
The Hill: “’I’m pleased that Ambassador Froman continues to be engaged in an open dialogue with Congress on the vital importance of groundbreaking, market-opening trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership,’ New Democrat Coalition Chairman Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) said in a statement…Froman has met several times with the Democratic group to keep them abreast of the negotiations. ‘He’s been relentless in his efforts to build support on the Hill and make himself accessible as a resource, even as he’s had an aggressive travel schedule aimed at completing difficult multilateral trade deals,’ a House aide told The Hill.
Inside U.S. Trade: “The New Democrat Coalition this week began gearing up for reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, whose charter expires on Sept. 30, 2014 even as a Democratic lawmaker leading the charge acknowledged that it will be a tough fight in Congress…Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Rick Larsen (D-WA) also spoke strongly in favor of Ex-Im reauthorization at the press conference.”
Inside U.S. Trade: “New Democrat Coalition Chairman Ron Kind (D-WI) this week advocated the quick passage of a bill to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to enhance trading partners’ willingness to complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. ‘It’s going to be tough to get these countries to make some real concessions if they don’t think our president can deliver the goods,’ he said in a Dec. 11 press conference.
Inside U.S. Trade: “Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) emphasized this week that the New Democrat Coalition feels ‘strongly’ that if TPA is moving forward, the extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program will be ‘taken care of.’ Kind, who chairs the Coalition, acknowledged that the TAA reauthorization is usually a problem, though he said he hoped it would not be this time…Rep. Derek Kilmer, who is part of the team working on TAA for the Coalition, said he hoped that Congress would maintain the ‘critical link’ between TAA and TPA…”
POLITICO: “House Democrats are bracing for battle with a faction of GOP small-government hard-liners next year over extending the U.S. Export-Import Bank’s charter, saying the opening salvo could come within the next two months. ‘This is going to be a rocky road, and it’s our intent to get it passed with the maximum number of votes as soon as possible,’ said Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA), referring to the government-run bank’s reauthorization bill, which he said could be introduced in 30-60 days. The Washington Democrat’s comments came at a press conference held by the leaders of the New Democrat Coalition and Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg on Wednesday.”
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