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Stop Fast Track Protect America, Don't Trade Her Away Dear Friend of the Environment: America is fighting terrorism to defend the land we all love. But U.S. trade policies are putting our land, air, and water at risk. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) gives foreign corporations the power to discourage environmental progress by suing U.S. taxpayers for billions if our environmental laws interfere with corporate profits. Soon the Senate will vote on "fast track" trade legislation. By requiring Congress to vote up or down without amendments on finished trade agreements, fast track deprives Congress of the right to fix trade deals that threaten the environment. Sponsored by Sen. Baucus (D-MT) and Sen. Grassley (R-IA), fast track would be used to expand NAFTA's corporate lawsuit provisions that put our environment at risk. Unfortunately, the Senate is likely to pass fast track despite our best efforts to stop it there. So we are focusing instead on building support for an amendment sponsored by Sen. John Kerry that would help ensure that future trade deals do not allow foreign corporations to sue our country over our environmental laws. The Baucus-Grassley fast track bill and Sen. Kerry's amendment are expected to come up for a vote as soon as mid-April. So we need your help NOW! But there's more. Because the Baucus-Grassley fast track bill differs from the House version of this legislation (H.R. 3005), a special House-Senate conference must meet to iron out a compromise version. Then the House of Representatives and the Senate must vote on this compromise bill. Because fast track passed the House by just one vote (214-215) in December, we stand a good chance of picking up one vote and actually defeating it there. The House is expected to vote in late April or in May. Please take action today to help win passage of the Kerry amendment, and to defeat fast track in the House: You can also print out sample letters that you or others can fax to your Senators and Representatives. These printouts are great for handing out at meetings, rallies, and events. Get fax numbers here for your Senators and Representatives. Request a free copy of a stunning new documentary by Bill Moyers on NAFTA's corporate lawsuits -- send an e-mail to margrete.strand@sierraclub.org. We'll send you the video and an action kit on how you can help stop fast track. Screen these videos in your homes for friends and neighbors and help generate letters on fast track to your elected officials. When you order your video, please add a couple words to your message explaining how you might use the video. Read a factsheet about NAFTA's corporate lawsuits. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club