WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D-OH) joined fellow cosponsors of the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act at a press conference held earlier today to unveil the legislation and discuss the future of American trade policy.

Cosponsored by more than 100 Members of Congress and endorsed by a dozen fair trade groups, the TRADE Act would revamp U.S. trade policy by establishing new standards, protecting workers in developing nations and restoring congressional oversight of future trade agreements. The bill would also establish a process for reviewing existing trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

"One of our nation's greatest challenges is to create new rules for globalization that ensure economic security, create quality jobs at home, and protect workers' rights, while offering opportunities for sustainable development in poor countries," Rep. Sutton said. "Such rules would counter rising income inequality and the threats our current policies pose to national security, our shared global environment, public health and safety, and democratic accountability.

"The TRADE Act moves us out of the rut of repeatedly fighting against more-of-the-same trade pacts and beyond the divisiveness such fights invariably generate. It can rebuild consensus for trade expansion by providing a roadmap for what responsible agreements would include and the procedures that can help us achieve this new model."