SENATOR SESSIONS WANTS TO KEEP CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL

Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) has offered two amendments to the fast-track trade bill that would give Pres. Obama full negotiating authority for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement. This bill would require Congress to give a speedy up-or-down vote without the ability to offer amendments to the final deal. TPP is also a "living document" and can be changed even after Congress gives its initial approval.

As Sen. Sessions pointed out in his 5-page memo a few weeks ago, free trade deals like the TPP often increase immigration numbers by granting extra visas to agreement signatories.

Sen. Sessions' amendments would require Congress to approve any changes to TPP after Congress' initial approval and would prevent the president from negotiating any changes to federal immigration law, including visa numbers, visa requirements, and visa lengths, as part of the TPP process.