Washington, DC – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today filed three amendments in the Senate Finance Committee to ensure future trade deals contain enforceable protections for the environment. The Finance Committee today is considering a series of trade-related bills.
“Coloradans value clean air and clean water, and we understand the economic benefits they bring to our state,” Bennet said. “Unfortunately, other countries don’t always hold their businesses to the same standards we do in this country. This places American companies at a disadvantage and runs counter to our efforts to have a cleaner environment. These amendments would strengthen our ability to enforce the environmental commitments of our trade agreements.”
Details on Bennet’s Amendments:
• Bennet filed an amendment that would require trading partners to develop procedures for the public, including private citizens, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and unions, to request an investigation into potential violations of enforceable environmental and labor obligations.
• Bennet filed an amendment to add an additional reporting requirement to the Environmental Review and Reports section to require the President to study the impact of any new free trade agreement on global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Bennet filed an amendment to give the United States authority to take all appropriate action, including retaliation to fight back against any of our trading partners’ laws, practices, or policies that violate environmental standards in an international trade agreement, or are otherwise unjustified, unreasonable, or discriminatory, or that burden or restrict U.S. commerce.
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