Health Groups Push Back Against TPA Bill
Recently introduced legislation that would provide for "fast track" approval of trade agreements would allow Congress to "abdicate" its role in such agreements, potentially putting the health of Americans at risk, a number of health groups said in a letter to the Senate and House of Representatives. If passed, the Trade Priorities Act of 2014, introduced Jan. 9 (see 14011013), would "set a dangerous standard for public health and for our democracy," said the groups, which include the American Public Health Association and Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health.
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Instead of approving fast track authority, Congress should "conduct hearings, solicit public comment, and take other appropriate investigatory and oversight action in all relevant Committees in Congress, to assess the impact of past, pending, and current trade agreements on population health, and assure based on such assessment that these agreements do not have an adverse impact on health," the letter said. Lawmakers should also mandate the appointment to all relevant trade advisory committees representatives of organizations that work to assure equitable access to affordable health-related services and products, and promote the health of individuals, communities and populations."