Washington, April 29 (RHC)-- U.S. President Barack Obama hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a White House state dinner Tuesday during Abe’s week-long visit to the United States. At a meeting earlier in the day, Obama said the two leaders discussed strengthening military ties and the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, the TPP.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe pushed for the TPP in an address to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday. Last week, panels in both the House and Senate passed a measure to give Obama authority to negotiate the deal, then rush it through Congress on a yes-or-no vote.

More than 2,000 organizations have now joined together to urge the U.S. Congress to reject fast-track authority for the TPP, saying the deal would hurt workers, undermine regulations and expand corporate power. Signers of the letter include environmental, labor and family farm groups, the NAACP, Presbyterian Church USA, and Alliance for Retired Americans.