Former Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower, also well known as a national radio commentator, columnist, and prolific author, will join with El Paso labor, community, and faith based organizations in two events Thursday, May 14 to highlight opposition to a controversial trade pact.

Hightower will join a public forum discussion at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 14 at Café Mayapan, 2000 Texas Ave., and a 6:30 p.m. rally at 6:30pm at the IBEW Hall, 311 W. Borderland Rd., both in El Paso.

Representatives of La Mujer Obrera, Border Network for Human Rights, Sierra Club, National Nurses Organizing Committee-Texas, Equal Voice Network and the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) will also participate in the panel discussion.  Liz Chavez, President of Wise Latina International will moderate.

NNOC-Texas is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest U.S. organization of nurses, which strongly opposes the secretive TPP, and the proposed Trade Promotion Authority, also known as Fast Track, which would require the Congress to approve trade deals like the TPP in an up or down vote without the ability to amend it.

The TPP is a major trade deal that the Obama administration is negotiating with 11 other Asian -Pacific countries.

 For NNU, the TPP represents a significant threat to public health, in limiting access to cheaper medications, reduced oversight of imported food products, and providing global corporations much greater authority to challenge public health laws passed by Congress, states, or municipalities.

“The TPP would allow drug companies the legal authority to challenge and overturn national laws and regulations that permit governments to negotiate lower drug prices through bulk purchases, which cut costs for everyone,” says NNU Co-President Karen Higgins, RN

"If approved, the Trans Pacific Partnership would make it harder for people who already struggle with buying their medication,” says Audrina Huante, RN and NNOC member.

More information is also available by calling 915-412-6404.

PARTICIPATING COALITION PARTNERS AND LABOR ALLIES:

Sierra Club El Paso / Communications Workers of America / *La Mujer Obrera / *AFSCME / Catholics United / *Border Network Human Rights / *IBEW / Columbans Mission Center /*National Nurses Organizing Committee / Former TX Agricultural Commissioner Jim Hightower /El Paso County Democratic Party

*Denotes members of the Lift Up El Paso Alliance, a RN initiated labor and community alliance formed around fighting wage theft and for a living wage.