WASHINGTON – The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), the global voice for the tech sector and its leading companies, issued the following statement from President and CEO Dean Garfield celebrating the House vote to pass the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA). The House voted 219 to 211 to approve TPA legislation, although the bill must still clear a procedural hurdle on Trade Adjustment Assistance before it can reach the president’s desk:

“Today’s vote in favor of TPA was really a vote in favor of America’s innovation leadership and shows there is majority support for expanding our country’s trade opportunities. This has been a vigorous debate and we are closer to seeing TPA passed into law if the House finishes the job at hand. Lawmakers should take this time to go home and visit the small businesses and startups that are thriving in their districts thanks to trade. In fact, when it comes to homegrown innovation through U.S. technology companies, each of the 435 congressional districts exports a technology good or service that supports good jobs in their hometowns.

“If lawmakers get away from the beltway chatter that is obscuring the debate, and find out how trade can continue growing their communities and rebuilding our economy for the long haul, they can come back and seize the opportunity to grow a prosperous, modern American economy."

# # #

Related [Trade & Investment]