Another Senate Attempt to Extend ATPDEA and TAA Failed
On February 17, 2011, Senator McCain (R) attempted to use “unanimous consent” procedures to have the Senate pass S. 380, his recently introduced bill to extend the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA)/Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA)1.
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However, Senator Brown (D) objected to S. 380, because it did not contain an extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). (Senator Brown did not want to extend ATPDEA without also extending TAA.)
Instead, Senator Brown attempted to use “unanimous consent” procedures to have the Senate pass an amendment to another bill (H.R. 359) which would provide an 18 month extension for TAA and ATPDEA. Senator McCain objected to the amendment, arguing that TAA should only be extended at pre-stimulus levels.
As a result of the objections to both S. 380 and Senator Brown’s amendment to H.R. 359, neither one was considered by the Senate under “unanimous consent” procedures. The Senate adjourned on February 17, 2011 until February 28, 2011.
(ATPA/ATPDEA expired on February 12, 2011 and an attempt by Senator Casey on February 10, 2011 to renew it failed. See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/11/11 news, 11021116, for BP summary of Senator Casey’s earlier failed attempt to extend it and TAA by unanimous consent.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/14/11 news, 11021411, for BP summary of CBP’s instructions on the February 12, 2011 expiration of ATPA/ATPDEA. See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/11/11 news, 11021116, for Senator Casey’s failed attempt to extend ATPDEA and TAA through the unanimous consent procedure.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/14/11 news, 11021426, for BP summary of Senator Brown and Casey’s introduction of S. 308, a bill to renew GSP, ATPDEA, and TAA.)
1Although the text of S. 380 is not yet available, one press source indicates that S. 380 would extend ATPDEA through November 2012.
Transcript of unanimous consent debate available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.