18 Jun Footwear Industry Praises House Final Passage of Key Trade Bill
Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed Trade Promotion Authority by a vote of 218 to 208. The Senate will now reconsider the TPA-2015 bill as it attempts to send this important legislation to President Obama’s desk. FDRA member companies have sent over 5,500 letters to Members of Congress in support of TPA over the past several weeks.
FDRA President Matt Priest commented on the bill’s passage:
“The footwear industry applauds the House of Representatives for re-passing Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation today. This has been a long and complex journey but I am confident that the U.S. Senate will soon pass this vital tool that every president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt has had at his disposal. TPA is essential to completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement that could help the U.S. footwear industry and American consumers save hundreds of millions of dollars each year in costs. Our industry paid $2.7 billion in duties last year — more than $450 million from TPP partner countries alone. FDRA has worked for years to highlight the hundreds of thousands of U.S. footwear jobs that rely on our ability to move goods all over the world, with trade supporting one in five jobs in America. As this legislation heads back to the Senate, FDRA will continue to lead the charge with congressional leaders to share our story and explain how TPA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership will strengthen and expand these jobs throughout the U.S.”
“I can’t thank our members and the industry enough for their engagement in this once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance our industry across the board. We are fortunate to work with great professionals throughout the footwear supply chain that are committed to advocating on behalf of their companies, their coworkers and their customers.”