NEAD
271 Dartmouth St. #2H
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617.266.8687
info [@] newenglandalliance.org

Call today! Keep Massachusetts Trade Advisory Board in the House-Senate Business and Jobs Growth Bill

A Massachusetts Trade Advisory Commission is closer to becoming a reality! Now we need you to call your state legislators this week to ensure that

The House version of the bill (H4863) establishes the board, but the Senate version (S2380) lacks this provision. The two bills are now in conference.

It's essential that you call your state senator and representative within the next few days and ask them to contact the conference committee to ensure inclusion of Section 136 of the House version, which establishes a Trade Advisory Commission, in the final bill.

This commission would be an opportunity for representatives from our labor, environment, business, and agriculture organizations to weigh in on federal trade policy, holding hearings and collecting constituent testimony with the goal of advising the Massachusetts congressional delegation on how federal trade policies, including free trade agreements or legislation like the TRADE Act, would affect our Commonwealth's economy, jobs, and laws.

Legislation to establish such a board has been filed by Rep. Byron Rushing for several years, but has always died at the end of the legislative session. The fact that an amendment to a major jobs bill establishes such a commission is very good news.

Please call your representatives today to ensure that the amendment stays in the bill through the conference committee, becomes law, and then becomes a new means for citizens to influence national trade policy toward economic and environmental justice.

Here are some talking points:

• The text of the amendment is essentially that of Representative Rushing's bill, H341. You can read it online here.


• Commission members will be representative of the Commonwealth's broad economy, including elected and appointed officials, representatives of organized labor, agriculture, and environmental groups, and individuals engaged in small business and international export. The commission will also include experts on economics and constitutional federalism.


• The diverse viewpoints and broad expertise of this group will provide a counterbalance to the voice of corporate lobbyists in Congress, ensuring that our Congressional delegation has the facts and understands the will of the people when it comes to trade policy that not benefits Massachusetts's economy, but also upholds our values.


• Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont all have such commissions. As the main driver of New England's regional economy, it's important that Massachusetts have one as well.