Meet the Largest Fair Trade Coalition Ever

Today leaders in Congress joined labor, faith, environmental and consumer leaders to speak out against "Fast Track" authority.

Standing with @AFLCIO, @CWAUnion, @SEIU, @sierraclub, Sister Simone and fellow reps against the #TPP #NoFastTrack pic.twitter.com/KvyL8otW4e

— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) January 8, 2015

Expected to be unveiled early this year, Fast Track would give President Obama the power to ram trade agreements through Congress with little debate or transparency. It would also ensure the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a twelve-nation, NAFTA-style trade pact that could threaten American jobs, environmental regulations, food safety and more.

President Cohen: "America will never see a raise of we continue to make these trade deals!" #NoFastTrack pic.twitter.com/mjxFxEAUn1

— CWA (@CWAUnion) January 8, 2015

Cohen promised, "We're prepared in every district to work as a coalition." He added, "We must negotiate trade deals that work for tens of millions of Americans, not just hundreds of corporations." 

Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, said, “Fast Track is the wrong way to process treaties, especially trade agreements. We know from experience with CAFTA that Fast Track did not allow other non-negotiators to raise concerns about the impact of the agreement on rural central America. The fact that we had a wave of children on our southern border is related in part to the terms and conditions of CAFTA. This was predicted as NAFTA had fueled Mexican migration. Yet there was no forum to raise these concerns. What are the consequences that negotiators are blind to this time? Only an open, public debate can ensure that other perspectives are fully considered. Fast Track keeps us blind to consequences."

Debbie Sease, federal campaign director of the Sierra Club, told the crowd, "Trade should be done right -- not just fast -- to protect our families and neighbors from pollution and climate disruption. Fast tracking flawed trade is a deal-breaker. With fast track, we would be trading away clean air, clean water, and safe communities."

.@repmarkpocan says, "We have seen the jobs go away and the wages go down...Fast Track does that!" #NoFastTrack pic.twitter.com/qxhzpwq3EY

— CWA (@CWAUnion) January 8, 2015

.@RepBarbaraLee says, "I'm for trade but this #TPP is outrageous!" #NoFastTrack pic.twitter.com/axZbsZZz5c

— CWA (@CWAUnion) January 8, 2015

Rep. @MarcyKaptur: wages have dropped for the average family $7,000 a year #NoFastTrack pic.twitter.com/aLq8Vkwsde

— Global Trade Watch (@PCGTW) January 8, 2015

.@AlanGrayson says, "We R creating tens of millions of jobs in other countries with these trade deals." #NoFastTrack pic.twitter.com/itWzawhubj

— CWA (@CWAUnion) January 8, 2015

.@repdonnaedwards says, "U.S. tax dollars should NOT be used to underwrite and subsidize jobs overseas." #NoFastTrack pic.twitter.com/23yy7b0GiA

— CWA (@CWAUnion) January 8, 2015

Rep. Debbie Dingell: it's not fair trade when we export middle class jobs to other countries. #NoFastTrack pic.twitter.com/qmBuzNFfAW

— Global Trade Watch (@PCGTW) January 8, 2015