Dear friend,

For far too long, our country has suffered under a trade framework that has served only to drive down wages, harm the environment, lower safety standards, and increase our trading deficits. We cannot continue the legacy of ill-negotiated trade agreements, like the North American Free Trade Agreement and Central American Free Trade Agreement, that have cost jobs and hurt working families. It is time for a new trade model.

In 2008, Representative Michael Michaud of Maine and Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio introduced the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment Act, otherwise known as the TRADE Act. Representative Michaud reintroduced the TRADE Act (H.R. 3012) in the House earlier this year, and it will soon be reintroduced by Senator Brown in the Senate.

The TRADE Act maps out a blueprint for what our trade policy should look like and the criteria for what must and must not be included in trade agreements. In particular, our trade agreements need to include strong labor and environmental protections. Foreign investors should not be given rights and privileges which promote the off-shoring of American jobs, and our procurement policies, such as Buy American, should not be banned. The TRADE Act would ensure these provisions are included in future trade agreements and that provisions in our current trade agreements which do not meet the criteria are renegotiated.

The Teamsters Union is working on Capitol Hill to gain cosponsorships for the TRADE Act from U.S. House members, but we need your help. Can we count on you to send an e-mail to your Representative today? It is time that our trade policy is fair and works for working families.

Subject: Please Cosponsor the TRADE Act

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 3012, the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment Act of 2009, otherwise known as the TRADE Act, which was introduced earlier this year by Representative Michael Michaud.

For too long, our country has suffered under the NAFTA-CAFTA trade framework, which has resulted in job loss, wage depression, environmental harm, lower safety standards, and increased trade deficits.

The TRADE Act would ensure that our future trade agreements meet certain criteria, such as strong labor and environmental protections, and that provisions in current agreements which do not meet the criteria are renegotiated. In particular, we should not be giving rights and privileges to foreign investors which promote the off-shoring of American jobs, and we can no longer accept bans on Buy American and environmental procurement policies.

It is time for a new trade model that is fair and works for all. Please add your name as a cosponsor to the TRADE Act of 2009. I look forward to your response on this matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]