WASHINGTON – The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), the global voice for the tech sector, issued the following statement from President and CEO Dean Garfield after the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 2146, the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, and called on the Senate to pass the trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation to boost U.S. trade in technology goods and services. In a letter sent to lawmakers ahead of the vote, ITI cited TPA as a key legislative priority for the tech sector:

"The House passing TPA brings us closer to having a successful 21st century economy where U.S. trade negotiators get the best deals, level the playing field, and lower trade barriers. With 95 percent of the world’s customers living outside of the U.S., TPA will help ensure that innovative American companies and their employees continue to drive our country’s economic growth and job creation by exporting and selling technology goods and services to customers around the world.

" There is never a parade for trade, but there should also be no partisanship. We are thankful for the bipartisan members of the House who again showed the courage to step out and support this legislation, and the leadership, to find a path forward for TPA. Every state in America exports a technology good or service that supports good jobs in their communities, and we encourage the Senate to pass TPA."

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