The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 218-208 in favor of Trade Promotion Authority, the process seen as necessary for entering new trade agreements, including the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership. The vote sends the proposal back to the Senate for consideration. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on the vote.

“A Des Moines Register editorial said, ‘The value of open markets is well understood in Iowa.’ What’s less understood to all of us who support free trade and the good-paying jobs that exports make possible is the opposition to a process. Trade Promotion Authority is only a process. It leaves the decision on whether to vote up or down on any trade agreement to Congress. If we don’t like a trade agreement, we don’t have to vote for it. It’s as simple as that. I’m looking forward to voting in favor of Trade Promotion Authority again.”