CAFTA Tentatively Scheduled for Vote Week of July 18
July 11, 2005
According to today's issue of Congressional Daily:
With the Central America Free Trade Agreement on schedule for a vote this month in the House, Republican and Democratic leaders return from the Independence Day recess to make last-ditch efforts for or against the trade deal.
House Majority Whip Blunt and Chief Deputy Majority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., will host a meeting with outside groups Wednesday morning in the Capitol on CAFTA. While a majority vote is far from assured, GOP leadership aides said last week that floor action is tentatively scheduled for the week of July 18.
The Ways and Means Committee approved CAFTA June 30, but has not filed the committee report -- a procedural move that would trigger floor action within 15 legislative days.
On the opposition front, Democrats are again coordinating with a coalition of Central American legislators and Roman Catholic bishops who will arrive in Washington Tuesday to lobby against the trade agreement. A Democratic aide said Friday their whip operation will continue to prevent as many Democratic "yes" votes as possible when CAFTA comes to the floor.