The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is sickened by the House vote approving Fast Track, a bill we have been fighting against for months on behalf of workers.
By a narrow 218-208 vote, the House forfeited its responsibility to review and amend trade deals and handed this all-important check-and-balance over to the Executive Branch. President Obama has signaled his intent to use Fast Track’s expanded powers to OK a jobs-killing Trans-Pacific trade deal.
The bill now goes to the Senate. We commend New Jersey Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker for standing with labor and opposing Fast Track in previous votes.
This fight is not over. Republicans rammed Trade Promotion Authority through the House after being stymied the week before. Despite continued arm-twisting by the White House, most of New Jersey’s House delegation stood firmly with labor and voted against this bad deal. We thank them for their continued support.
How They Voted: New Jersey House Delegation on Fast Track
Fast Track |
NJ Congressional Representative |
N |
Donald Norcross (D-1) |
N |
Frank LoBiondo (R-2) |
N |
Tom MacArthur (R-3) |
N |
Chris Smith (R-4) |
N |
Scott Garrett (R-5) |
N |
Frank Pallone (D-6) |
Y |
Leonard Lance (R-7) |
N |
Albio Sires (D-8) |
N |
Bill Pascrell (D-9) |
NV |
Donald Payne Jr. (D-10) |
Y |
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) |
N |
Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) |
*NV=Not Voting
If you have not done so, please CLICK HERE today to urge your member of Congress to continue to stand with American workers and American consumers and do the right thing.
On behalf of our one million members and their families, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO will never abandon the fight for trade policies that provide permanent, family sustaining jobs and promote strong, vibrant communities.