As the U.S. Congress braces for a vote on the free trade pact with South Korea, a senior Republican member at the House Friday stressed the need to pass it before President Lee Myung-bak makes a state visit next month. The White House and the Republicans in the House are set for full-fledged consultations on the renewal of a controversial worker aid program and the fate of the free trade agreements (FTAs) with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.