Former DNC Chairs Urge Fellow Democrats to Support Trade Promotion Authority
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Former DNC Chairs Urge Fellow Democrats to Support Trade Promotion Authority March 26, 2015 To Fellow Members of the Democratic Party, As former DNC Chairs, we are proud to be leaders in a Party that seeks to strengthen the middle class and ensure America’s safety and security. To that end, we support granting Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to President Obama. TPA originates from the earliest trade negotiating authority, passed by the New Deal Congress in 1934 and signed into law by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. During the last four decades Congress has granted every President, Democrat and Republican alike, some version of trade promotion authority. To continue this bipartisan tradition, we stand behind the head of our Party, President Obama, in his quest for long-standing negotiating authority that allows Congress and the Executive branch to work together to pursue trade agreements that benefit Americans across the country. Moreover, TPA will clear a path for the President to pursue his pro-growth trade agenda—an agenda that will move America forward. As Democrats, we believe in rebuilding middle class security by putting Americans back to work. America's trade agreements are delivering for middle class families and our economic security. Our seventeen most recent trade agreements have improved the goods trade balance by $30 billion every year—that is some serious progress. The United States exported $2.35 trillion in Made-in-America goods and services in 2014, our fifth record-breaking year in a row. The increase in U.S. exports has contributed one-third of our economic growth and added $760 billion to our economy between 2009-2014. Most importantly, this economic growth means more jobs and more jobs that pay better. Every $1 billion of U.S. exports supports between 5,400 and 5,900 U.S. jobs, and these jobs pay up to 18 percent more than non-export-related jobs. New trade agreements can make exporting easier and help U.S. small and large businesses reach untapped markets, putting Americans back to work in well-paying jobs. As Democrats, we believe that America works when everyone plays by the same rules. 95 percent of the world’s population is outside our borders—and this number is only growing—which means that it’s important to set fair rules abroad and at home. Trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will level the playing field for American workers and businesses by setting high labor, environmental, and other standards for 11 other countries in Asia-Pacific that make up nearly 40% of the global economy. If we don’t lead in this region, other countries will set weak rules that threaten American jobs and workers. As Democrats, we believe in strengthening international alliances and advancing universal values. By showing U.S. leadership in the fastest-growing region in the world, we are building ties that have immense strategic importance. We are also promoting our values such as protecting the environment, standing up for workers, supporting innovation and creativity through robust intellectual property rights, increasing transparency and inclusiveness, preserving a free and open internet, expanding access to innovative and generic medicines, and protecting consumers and small business. No one can argue with the fact that given fair rules and new access, Americans can compete and win in today’s global economy. With TPA, we will move one step closer to bringing the benefits of trade to more Americans and restoring the link between hard work and growing opportunity. Sincerely, Governor Ed Rendell Governor Roy Romer Senator Chris Dodd Senator Paul Kirk, Jr. Joe Andrew Donald Fowler David Wilhelm .