Chances for passage of the three Free Trade Agreements improved greatly with today's developments in Congress, according to Commissioner John McMillan of the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industry.
"Speaker John Boehner opened the door for the U.S. House of Representatives to act on free trade legislation, signalling bipartisan cooperation on issues that previously kept the Obama administration from sending the agreements to congress for ratification," McMillan said.
The U.S. Senate yesterday passed the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act, which Obama and the Democrats have said is a necessary prior to ratifying the Free Trade Agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea. Boehner said today chances in the House are good for passage of trade adjustment legislation, a package of protections for workers displaced by foreign trade. He added that the President must first send the three free trade bills, which will be taken up alongside trade adjustment.
McMillan, in support of the free trade legislation, has stated their passage will open the way to bring thousands of jobs to Alabama, especially in agriculture and agribusiness.
On Monday, McMillan holds a Huntsville news conference to discuss specifics on free trade, especially as it will affect North Alabama.
Who: Commissioner John McMillan, Alabama Dept. of Agriculture & Industries
Where: Charles Stone Ag Center, 819 Cook Ave., Huntsville
When: Monday, Sept. 26, 12 noon
What: Jobs for Alabama through Free Trade |