article_snippet.sent: But the immediate battle in Congress is not over TPP directly, but something called trade promotion authority, or "Fast-Track."  Trade promotion authority, which would allow trade agreements such as TPP to come before Congress without amendment, has been on the books for decades.  
article_snippet.sent: The power to use trade promotion authority, however, must be periodically reauthorized.  
article_snippet.sent: Congress voted narrowly to give President Bush trade promotion authority in 2002, but President Bush trade promotion authority expired in 2007 and has not been renewed.
article_snippet.sent: There is near universal agreement that the current talks cannot be concluded unless Congress reauthorizes trade promotion authority, without which the 11 other nations that are parties to the current talks cannot be confident that the United States speaks with one voice.
article_snippet.sent: But even if trade promotion authority passes, the fight over the TPP is far from over.  
article_snippet.sent: Provisions in the trade promotion authority bills just voted out of the committees will require review for at least four months after the negotiations are concluded and before Congress can grant final approval to the TPP.  