bipartisan, bicameral Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation has been introduced in Congress that would put negotiations for new trade agreements that could benefit agriculture on the fast track.

The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) outlines negotiating objectives that must be followed by any administration when conducting trade talks while also increasing transparency by requiring that Congress see the full details of trade agreements well before they are signed.

“We look for quick action by Congress to provide the President with the authority to pursue agreements that open markets for America’s farmers, ranchers and agribusiness,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “U.S. agriculture’s interests are best served by ensuring America is at the table with strong negotiating authority.”

The administration has been strongly promoting the need for Congress to grant TPA to the president to move forward with negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP).

Prior to agreeing to the deal, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on trade priorities featuring testimony from administration officials, including Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and US Trade Representative Michael Froman. Listen to or download audio from some of their remarks below.