Politics | trade deal House GOP Resuscitates Obama's Fast Track But hark, ahead lies the Senate By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Jun 18, 2015 12:00 PM CDT Copied In this June 11, 2015 file photo, House Speaker John Boehner says he's committed to passing a major trade deal as soon as possible. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) The House has revived President Obama's embattled trade agenda, but a potentially tough Senate battle awaits. The House voted 218 to 208 today to grant Obama "fast track" authority to send Congress trade agreements it can reject or ratify but not change. The Republican-driven vote—the breakdown, per Politico was 190 Republicans and 28 Democrats in favor, and 50 Republicans and 158 Democrats against—marks a dramatic turnabout from last week's stunning setback dealt to Obama by House Democrats. This time fast track was separated from another matter that the Democrats had used to scuttle the whole package. The GOP-controlled Senate could take up the issue next week. John Boehner, who worked with Mitch McConnell and the president this week to revive the measure, today predicted quick passage in the Senate. The bill needs help from about a dozen Democrats, and Nancy Pelosi doesn't sound optimistic, telling Politico, "I don’t see a path right now for TAA." Democrats want assurance that Congress also will renew federal aid for workers displaced by international trade. Unions strongly oppose fast track. Obama says US producers need it. Read These Next He was an Olympian. Now he's the FBI's most wanted. Disturbing turn of events in case of a teen found dead on a cruise. Driver kills 3, then asks, 'Why should I apologize?' Earhart experts not exactly excited about the latest document dump. Report an error