WASHINGTON (SPECTRUM NEWS) — The White House is revamping its push for Democrats to pass President Trump’s trade deal with Mexico and Canada sooner than later.

The agreement was signed by US, Mexican and Canadian leaders last year but still hasn't been ratified by Congress yet.

Vice President Mike Pence took aim at Congress while speaking at a Heritage Foundation event this week.

He told lawmakers to act amid growing union strikes GM plants around the country.

"As the president said we hope and trust you'll work out your differences with GM,” said Vice Pres. Pence. “But while you're at it if you really want to support our nation's auto workers, the UAW and GM ought to tell Congress to pass the USMCA and make sure there's more auto workers jobs for decades to come."

According to the White House, the NAFTA replacement aims to strengthen food and agricultural trade in the region, protect U.S. intellectual property and tighten rules on currency manipulation.

Republican congressman Bryan Steil, R-Janesville believes those are invaluable improvements

“I think what we need to do is continue to add pressure to Speaker Pelosi so she brings this bill to a vote on the House floor,” said Rep. Steil. “If this vote comes forward, I’m confident it would pass in the House right now with Republicans and Democrats coming together to support this trade bill.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Democrats are positive they’re on a pathway to passing it.

But Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison says the tug-of-war over additional conditions is what’s holding it up.

“If you take away the gift to ‘Big Pharma’ and you actually put protections in the actual trade agreements where they actually belong, you’d probably have 370-390 members of Congress voting for it,” said Rep. Pocan.

Pocan says those protections Democrats are looking for relate to enforcement of labor and environmental standards.

But Thursday, four former secretaries of the Department of Agriculture came out publicly in support of the deal and responded to those concerns by mentioning there will be a review process in the event those standards aren’t met.