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Dear [insert Member of Congress or US Senator:]

I am writing to request that you Vote “No” on Fast Track Trade Authority for the Trans-Pacific

Partnership (TPP). Fast Track undermines the checks and balances of Congress and puts too

much power in the hands of the president.

Fast Track would undermine Congress’ responsibility to oversee commerce as delineated in the

Constitution. Fast Track would prevent a transparent and democratic review process to consider

the full impact trade agreements such as the TPP would have on the economy and public safety

and health. Article I Section 8 of the US Constitution states:

The Congress shall have Power to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations

Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress is solely responsible for writing the laws and setting trade

policy. For 200 years, this key check and balance on the president ensured that the executive

branch did not hold too much unilateral power. But, over the last few decades, presidents have

seized these congressional powers through Fast Track Trade Authority. Congress should refuse

to grant Fast Track Authority to the president to ensure trade represents the views of the people,

not the interests of the president.

Fast Track weakens Congress in the following ways:

Allows the president to unilaterally select partner countries for trade pacts;

Allows the president to unilaterally negotiate the contents of trade agreements;

Allows the president to unilaterally sign complex trade agreements before Congress votes

on them (NAFTA was 1,700 pages including appendices);

Allows the president to commit the United States to legislation that would conform with

the trade agreement, such legislation can affect finance, healthcare, patents, food safety,

agriculture, Internet, wages and labor conditions, environmental protection, energy,

“Buy America” laws, land use and zoning, among others.

Commits the United States to be bound by decisions of international trade tribunals that

can overrule laws passed by Congress and undermine US sovereignty;

Allows the president to limit the normal Congressional committee process by limiting or

forbidding hearings, not allowing amendments or the drafting of laws by Congressional

committees;

Allows the president to control the Congressional voting schedule and voting procedure,

i.e. sets timetables for voting and does not allow amendments.

Hundreds of trade agreements have become law without Fast Track while only 16 trade

agreements required Fast Track to become law. Fast Track has been used to pass the most

controversial and unpopular trade agreements like NAFTA and the World Trade Organization,

which have had undesirable consequences.

Some in Congress suggest that adding “Negotiating Objectives” would be sufficient to ensure

congressional concerns are heard. Negotiating Objectives have previously been added to Fast

Track but are not enforceable and have been ignored by previous presidents. In the case of the

Trans-Pacific Partnership, there have already been more than three years of negotiations,

Sample Letter To Congressman - Fast Track Trade Authority For The Trans-Pacific Partnership (Tpp)