U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) issued the following statement Thursday after voting to suspend the "fast-track" deadline for action by the House of Representatives on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, giving the body more time to weigh in on the treaty.

"This Administration's trade policies have dealt blow after blow after blow to West Virginia workers. The Colombian Free Trade Agreement is no different; it has been crafted by Administration representatives who do not have the best interests of West Virginia at heart and who are putting American jobs at risk.

First and foremost, the Congress has a duty to protect the peace and prosperity of the people of our own Nation. In light of the economic downturn that is currently gripping our Nation, our top priority must be to get our economy back on track. Fast-track procedures deny the people's representatives a meaningful voice in trade policies, and so I have voted to allow the Congress more time for greater scrutiny and a stronger hand in shaping this deal.

We must to look out for the concerns of America's working families, here at home, before agreeing to another dangerous trade deal that will increase unfair foreign competition and create a ‘fast track' to the unemployment line for American workers."