Senate Leader McConnell: Trade Deal Would Create 1.4M US Jobs

A major US trade agreement with Pacific nations returned to the Senate for a vote on Tuesday, June 23, this time without a measure that would help workers affected by trade agreements. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, urged passage of the trade bill, saying it would help address the effects of “Chinese aggression” on US workers, and would create 1.4 million jobs, 14,000 of which would be in his home state.

The legislation would allow enhanced negotiating powers for President Barack Obama to complete the trade accord. Obama has repeatedly called for support of the bill, but Democrats defeated parts of it in the House. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz of Texas said Tuesday he would not support the legislation hours before the vote, the Associated Press reported. Credit: YouTube/Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell