Senate votes to advance Obama's fast-track trade bill

(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

published 23 June 2015

The Senate voted 60-37 on Tuesday to advance Obama's fast-track trade bill, ending a drawn-out debate on the legislation, which was almost derailed by House Democrats. The stamp of approval from the Senate "all but ensur[es]" the bill will win final passage on Wednesday and then be sent to Obama's desk to be signed into law, The Los Angeles Times reports. The bill would allow Obama to present trade deals to Congress for a yes-or-no vote, without the option of amendment, thus giving him the legislative power to wrap up talks on the massive 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, one of his final term's top legislative priorities. The trade agreement would cover roughly 40 percent of the global economy.