U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran Issues Statement on Introduction of Trade Promotion Authority

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Apr 22, 2015, 05:37 ET

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran today issued the following statement in support of the introduction of the Trade Promotion Authority legislation (TPA-2015):

"The United States Conference of Mayors is pleased that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, Ranking Member Ron Wyden, along with Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan have reached agreement on Trade Promotion Authority legislation (TPA-2015). At its 2014 Annual Meeting in Dallas, TX, the nation's mayors adopted policy in support of TPA that includes high standard objectives. TPA-2015 contains objectives that help protect intellectual property rights and addresses various trade barriers.

"The U.S. Conference of Mayors strongly supports enforceable labor and environmental provisions in future trade agreements that raise global standards. U.S. metro economies represent more than 90% of the nation's gross domestic product and 92% of the nation's future economic growth, one-third of which is projected to come from expanding exports. TPA paves the way for our metro economies to take full advantage of dramatically expanding markets overseas, which are critical to our economic future.

"Coupled with stronger Trade Adjustment Assistance legislation, TPA will ensure that U.S. metro economies continue their expansion into the global marketplace. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration as further details on major trade agreements emerge. Based on our policy resolution, we call on Congress to move TPA-2015 legislation forward."

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.

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SOURCE The U.S. Conference of Mayors