Democrats Introduce Long-Term TAA in Both Chambers
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., introduced legislation in both the Senate and House of Representatives on Feb. 25 to extend Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs through the end of 2020. The bill also aims to strengthen those programs through a number of modifications. Trade Adjustment Assistance, which supporters say helps Americans who lost jobs to trade by preparing them to enter the workforce in other fields, expires on Sept. 30, the end of fiscal year 2015.
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The Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2015 compensates for “wrong-headed trade deals,” Brown said in a release (here). Only manufacturing workers, farmers and fishers are currently eligible, but this measure would expand eligibility criteria to the service and public sectors, said the release. The legislation also expands the length of training programs, and benefits covered under them, it added.
TAA has advanced through Congress as part of Trade Promotion Authority packages in the past and could be seen as an olive branch to Democrats skeptical of TPA (see 14011013). A Brown spokeswoman said he prefers TAA moves independent of TPA, as well. "But if TPA moves, it must include a long-term, expansive TAA reauthorization," she said. The bill has no cosponsors in the Senate.
The AFL-CIO, applauded the introduction, but said lawmakers should tackle TAA separately from TPA. "When workers lose their jobs through no fault of their own, they need the support of this program,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka after the introduction (here). “And we owe it to them to prevent TAA from being linked to the undemocratic Fast Track process, which paves the way for fewer jobs and lower wages.” Many union officials have called on lawmakers to shoot down TPA this Congress (see 1501090022).
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the bill text.