A group that includes virtually all Republican senators said March 14 that its members would place holds on the confirmation of the next Commerce secretary and other trade-related nominees until the Obama administration takes action on long-stalled free-trade agreements, specifically the previously negotiated deals with Colombia and Panama. The group includes 44 of the Senate's 47 Republican members.
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the group says, "Until the president submits both agreements to Congress for approval and commits to signing implementing legislation into law, we will use all the tools at our disposal to force action, including withholding support for any nominee for Commerce secretary and any trade-related nominees."
Obama recently named Commerce Secretary Gary Locke ambassador to China to replace Jon Huntsman, who will step down at the end of April, meaning the Senate will need to confirm a new Commerce secretary.
"[W]e don't intend to move forward on the nomination of a new secretary of commerce or any other trade-related position that requires confirmation of the Senate until all three trade agreements are sent to the Senate and the House for consideration," Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said at a news conference.
McConnell was asked about whether he would hold up the US-South Korea FTA as leverage to move the other two pacts. "I'm not in favor of voting against or holding up something I'm already in favor of," he responded. "[W]hat we are saying is, Mr. President … get all three of them up here, and you won't have any trouble confirming people who are going to be put up for secretary of commerce," McConnell said.
