Letter from Rep. Jan Schakowsky re TPP

I wrote my rep. (already knowing her position) just to hear her response. Typically, I don't get this much...

She Rocks!

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 16, 2015, at 10:35 AM, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky <us.rep.schakowsky@mail.house.gov> wrote:

Dear Mr. Marc:

Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement. I appreciate hearing from you, and I agree with you.

I am extremely disappointed by the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement reached in secret sessions and announced on October 5th. While I look forward to studying the specific language, I remain convinced that outline of the deal falls far short of the fair trade principles needed to improve the lives of workers, consumers and patients. I joined several of my colleagues at a press conference on October 9th to express our deep concerns and to demand the immediate public release of the full agreement. As a leader of the House Trade Working Group, I am working to prevent passage of this unfair and dangerous TPP trade agreement. I strongly opposed fast track authority, legislation designed to clear the way for its passage.

I support fair trade policies but I have grave concerns about the TPP and oppose its passage. The TPP is a very broad trade agreement that would give corporations wide-ranging powers to challenge federal, state or local laws in extrajudicial proceedings outside of the U.S. legal system. The TPP would have broad-ranging effects – across virtually every sector of our and the global economy. It could increase the offshoring of U.S. jobs, undermine regulation of the financial sector, harm the environment, reduce human rights protections around the world, and decrease access to essential medicines.

I am particularly concerned about the pharmaceutical provisions in the agreement. I am deeply disturbed that our government stood alone in pushing for changes to existing trade laws to increase brand-name drug profits, block competition from generics and raise costs to consumers. We all want to promote innovation, but life-saving drugs won't actually save lives if they are unaffordable and out of reach of those who need them.

I have repeatedly raised these concerns with the Obama Administration. Over the last year, I've joined many other members of Congress sending letters to the U.S. Trade Representative and others in the Obama Administration. Those letters have called for increased transparency and for greater consultation on the nuts and bolts of the agreement. Time and again, I have stressed the importance of ensuring that TPP creates a sustainable trade model that appropriately protects U.S. workers and consumers from harm in letters, meetings and press conferences. The negotiation process is ongoing, and I will continue to do whatever I can to ensure that our trade policies are fair and do not undermine critical labor, environmental, consumer, and other protections.

As I mentioned, I will also continue to fight any effort to ram a trade agreement through Congress without significant debate. I strongly opposed the passage of Trade Promotion Authority – known as "Fast Track." I also voted against the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) bill designed to clear the way for fast track authority and the TPP, and also included a cut to Medicaid. Unfortunately, "Fast Track" recently passed the House of Representatives on a close vote and has since been signed into law. If you'd like to see my full statement in opposition to "Fast Track," it is available here: (link).

Again, thank you for contacting me on this important issue. Please let me know whenever I may be of assistance in the future.


Sincerely,


Jan Schakowsky
Member of Congress


P.S.
It sucked that Obama was from Chicago. She's certainly left of him but took one for the team. Glad to hear her openly opposing his position.