House Passes 'fast Track' Trade Bill

The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to give President Barack Obama "fast track" trade authority. The bill would allow Obama and future presidents to send trade agreements to Congress for up-or-down votes without amendments. The bill now goes to the Senate, where Republican leaders are seeking to pick up enough support from Democrats to pass the measure and send it to Obama's desk. Obama wants fast track to speed congressional passage of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-nation trade deal. The final vote was 218 to 208.