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| Senate Passes Fast Track; Fight Moves to the Real Battleground in the House |
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| On Friday night, after cutting debate short and failing to consider many important amendments, the Senate voted 62-37 to pass Fast Track. All attention now shifts to the House, where the outcome is much less certain. | |
| SENATE VOTE | |
| All Democrats and Independents voted RIGHT (“no” on Fast Track) except for: Sens. Bennet (CO), Cantwell (WA), Cardin (MD), Carper (DE), Coons (DE), Feinstein (CA), Heitkamp (ND), Kaine (VA), McCaskill (MO), Murray (WA), Nelson (FL), Shaheen (NH), Warner (VA) and Wyden (OR).
All Republicans voted WRONG (“yes” on Fast Track) except for: Sens. Collins (ME), Lee (UT), Paul (KY), Sessions (AL) and Shelby (AL). Senator Enzi (R-WY) did not vote. |
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| “The approach taken by the Senate will damage U.S. production and jobs. No one voting for fast track should laud this bill. More than 150 objectives were included in fast track, but the administration has already said that they do not intend to pursue all of them. Senators who voted yes may try and take cover behind the lofty rhetoric, but the substance gives them nowhere to hide. Workers want good jobs and wages, not more false promises.” | |
| – USW International President Leo W. Gerard | |
| NEXT UP: THE HOUSE | |
| Proponents took up the bill in the Senate first because they wanted to build momentum before the bill went to the House. However, it was a bumpy ride at best and certainly not the slam dunk they were hoping for. Only a small number of House Democrats have indicated public support for Fast Track to date. There are also a number of House Republicans opposing the bill. At present, it’s enough to block passage of Fast Track, but the proponents are working hard to change that.
Get Ready for a Massive Call-In Day. The Steelworkers will be participating in a national call-in day on June 3. Start making plans now for how you will get your members to act. This needs to be a big effort to send a strong signal. Want to start early? Use our toll-free number: Thank you for the outstanding work in this fight. We’ve been working to stop Fast Track since early in 2015, holding off this bad bill again and again. Keep it going! |
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