Baku-APA. US President Barack Obama has called on Congress to pass a bill that will give him authority to complete trade deals after the House of Representatives rejected it, APA reports quoting Press TV.
The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) bill was turned down by lawmakers 302-126 on Friday.
During his weekly address on Saturday, the US president said the failure will “directly hurt about 100,000 workers and their communities.”
"For the sake of those workers, their families, and their communities, I urge those members of Congress who voted against Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to reconsider and stand up for American workers," Obama said.
The program would have provided government aid to workers who had lost their jobs because of free trade agreements.
The bill would have also given the US president authority to complete other trade deals with Asian countries, known as Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.
President Obama also noted the TAA legislation is the right thing to do for next generations.
“This is the right thing to do. Trade that’s fair and free and smart will grow opportunity for our middle class,” he said. “It will help us restore the dream we share, and make sure that every American who works hard has a chance to get ahead.”
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bill again early next week.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said there is “still time for them to get this right, and it is my hope that we can get this done as soon as possible.”
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