Dems to attempt trade bills extensions by unanimous consent

Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) will seek a unanimous consent agreement on the Senate floor on Thursday to extend the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program for 18 months.

"I am hopeful we will be able to get a unanimous consent agreement, but if not we will just keep trying," said Brown on Thursday.

TAA offers benefits to U.S. workers hurt by international trade, and ATPA lowers duties on goods from Andean countries. Both programs expire this weekend.

A Senate vote would put pressure on the House to act, but House Republicans this week postponed a vote to extend both measures in order to pressure the Obama administration to move on the Colombia and Panama free trade agreements.