This bill would renew the president’s power to ‘fast-track,’ or expedite, approval of trade agreements in Congress, and establish new procedures and oversight mechanisms for such agreements. It carried no provisions relevant to Palestinian affairs or the wider Arab-Israeli conflict until the Senate Finance Committee added an amendment targeting the BDS movement during a 4/22 markup session. Specifically, the relevant provision would establish the same objectives for all U.S. trade negotiations outlined in S. 619 of 3/2/15. See that measure for a full summary.
As legislation dealing with revenue must originate in the House, the Senate amended the full text of this bill onto a bill previously passed in the House, H.R. 1314 of 3/4/15. Further action is listed under that measure.
1 cosponsor (1D).
See also: the House’s version of the ‘fast-track’ renewal bill, H.R. 1890 of 4/17/15, and *H.R. 2146 0f 4/30/15.
Last major action: 5/12/15 reported from Senate Comm. on Finance.