BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois’ largest corn growers advocacy organization is lauding the introduction of the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act (TPA-15) – also known as the Trade Promotion Authority bill – as a crucial step toward U.S. farmers meeting or rising above the cost of production for their crop.

By passage of the TPA, President Barack Obama would gain the necessary means for negotiating trade agreements that could open important export markets for U.S. corn and help ensure American farmers remain competitive, according to the National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) and its state-level member organizations, including the Illinois Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA).

“TPA is a very important part of getting the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) passed; it’s kind of the first step,” said Lindsay Mitchell, special projects coordinator for Illinois Corn, and one of several ICGA representatives lobbying for TPA passage in Congress. “There is a lot to be gained if President Obama can secure TPA.”

A signed TPA bill, as currently written, would allow Congress to offer direction to the executive branch on trade policy priorities and objectives for negotiating trade agreements. It also sets requirements for Congress to notify and consult stakeholders and the public before and during trade negotiations.

In addition, TPA renews presidential authority to submit trade agreements to Congress for an up-or-down vote without amendments, a component of the bill that would assure U.S. trade partners any agreements would not be altered by Congress, according to the NCGA.

“It is so important for Illinois farmers, because we’ve had these last two record crops, that we are actively involved in building markets. It is important if we want to get farmers above the cost of production,” Mitchell explained.

Because of ICGA’s member-driven lobbying effort, Illinois Corn has been in contact with nearly all of the state’s Congressional delegation from both sides of the aisle to encourage TPA passage. Recent talks were held with the offices of Sens. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, and Mark Kirk, a Republican, among others.

“We feel pretty good about (TPA),” Mitchell reported last week. “It will be an easy vote for most of our Republicans, I think. It will be a difficult vote for the Democrat members of our delegation. But I do think there are some Democrats who will cross over and vote with us. No one we talked to on the Senate or the House side thought (TPA) wouldn’t pass.”

TPA passed in the Senate Finance Committee on April 22 and cruised through the House’s committee the following day. “That doesn’t happen too often in our current political climate,” Mitchell offered. “It was exciting and unusual to see that kind of movement.”

Buzz from Capitol Hill says the TPA bill will be introduced for debate on the Senate floor sometime between Memorial Day and July 4, then will proceed to the House.

“We talked to a staffer on the Senate Finance Committee side, and she anticipates a lot of amendments on the Senate floor, so the bill will languish there for a while. Her estimated timeline was longer. It is thought TPA will pass rather quickly in the House, from all indications,” Mitchell said, adding Illinois Corn will soon be urging farmers to contact their Congressional representative to request passage of TPA.

According to NCGA, TPA has existed in its current form since 1974, but has not been updated since its 2007 expiration. Prior to 2007, every president since the 1930s had authority from Congress to negotiate trade agreements. Only by renewing TPA can the U.S. government conclude and pass new trade agreements, such as the TPP.

The House Committee on Agriculture endorses TPA, as do The American Soybean Assoc., Corn Refiners Assoc., American Farm Bureau, National Assoc. of Wheat Growers, National Pork Producers Council, American Feed Industry Assoc., National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc., National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, among others.