Senate Republicans will look to send the fast-track trade bill to President Obama this week, while the House debates a spending measure that would block a wide array of environmental regulations.

 

The House broke a deadlock on the trade issue last week by splitting the Trade Promotion Authority measure from an extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance programs. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has set up an expedited process to pass both TPA and TAA in that chamber this week, but he'll need the support of the 14 pro-TPA Democrats to do it.

 

A cloture vote on the TPA bill (HR 2146) is expected Tuesday. Getting the necessary 60 votes will depend on President Obama's “ability to convince Democratic senators who support trade that this is the path toward approval of trade promotion authority,” Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., told Agri-Pulse.