‘’Fast Track’’ Trade Bill Would Undercut Health, Environmental Safeguards

WASHINGTON (April 16, 2015) – Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) today introduced “fast track’’ legislation that would allow President Obama to obtain expedited congressional approval of international trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the E.U.-U.S. trade agreement called Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

The following is a statement by Peter Lehner, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council:

“These trade agreements would allow foreign corporations to challenge our chemical safeguards, climate protections and food safety laws at special trade tribunals outside our normal legal system. Congress should reject any fast track legislation that allows expedited approval for trade agreements that can undercut our public health and environmental safeguards.”