WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement after the Senate voted 62-37 to approve the bipartisan trade bill including Trade Promotion Authority:

“I am pleased that the Senate has voted to approve this bipartisan trade bill because increased trade is good for U.S. businesses, workers, and our economy. Virginia companies exported goods valued at $19 billion in 2014 – and trade supported nearly 91,000 Virginia jobs. 

“Meanwhile, 95 percent of the world’s potential customers live outside the United States. Free trade agreements allow our businesses, manufacturers, and growers to access new markets in the rest of the world.

“Today’s vote moves us one step closer to trade partnerships that will allow exporters to sell more American goods while ensuring that the U.S., not China, is setting the global rules when it comes to environmental and labor standards and human rights.

“Congress has an obligation to thoroughly examine any proposed trade agreement before it is implemented and I will carefully review any agreement that the President puts forward for approval.”