In this portion of the Senate Finance Committee “mock” markup , members entertained amendments to the Panama and Columbia free trade agreements.
The Finance Committee considered the bills during a “mock” markup because Congress cannot offer amendments to the final implementing bills submitted by the administration under the Trade Promotion Authority Act - also known as “fast track” - procedures. Committee mock markups are the only opportunities for Congress to offer amendments to administration proposals. Following administration review of any amendments that the Finance and Ways and Means Committees approve on the draft implementing bills, final versions of the implementing bills will be submitted to Congress for an up-or-down vote.