Sanders Statement on Push to Pass Pacific Trade Pact

BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 12 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released the following statement Friday after the White House took new action to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership:

"I am disappointed by the president's decision to continue pushing forward on the disastrous Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that will cost American jobs, harm the environment, increase the cost of prescription drugs and threaten our ability to protect public health.

“This treaty is opposed by every trade union in the country and virtually the entire grassroots base of the Democratic Party. Just yesterday, Secretary Clinton made her strongest statement to date against this deal.

“In my view, it is now time for the leadership of the Democratic Party in the Senate and the House to join Secretary Clinton and go on the record in opposition to holding a vote on this job-killing trade deal during the lame-duck session of Congress and beyond.

“We need to defeat this treaty and fundamentally rewrite our trade policies to create good-paying jobs in this country and throughout the world and end the race to the bottom. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that the TPP does not get implemented.”