[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5718 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5718

  To amend the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to the trade adjustment 
              assistance program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 29, 2006

  Mr. Hayes introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to the trade adjustment 
              assistance program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF DISPLACED TEXTILE AND AND APPAREL WORKERS FOR 
              TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.

    Section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2272) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``A group'' and inserting ``Subject to 
                subsection (d), a group''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by amending clause (ii) to 
                read as follows:
            ``(ii) there has been or is likely to be an increase in 
        imports of articles that are like or directly competitive with 
        articles which are or were produced by such firm or 
        subdivision.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Textile and Apparel Workers.--In the case of workers in a 
firm that produces textiles or apparel products, the Secretary shall 
make the determination under subsection (a) of the eligibility of such 
workers for trade adjustment assistance under this chapter without 
regard to paragraph (2) of subsection (a).''.

SEC. 3. STUDY AND REPORT ON USE OF FUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Labor shall conduct a study on the 
feasibility of allowing States to use a greater portion of funds 
received under the adjustment assistance for workers program under 
chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2271 et seq.) 
for administrative expenses. In conducting the study, the Secretary 
shall compare applicable requirements under the adjustment assistance 
for workers program with requirements under other similar programs, 
such as programs under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
2801 et seq.).
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
that contains--
            (1) the results of the study conducted under subsection 
        (a); and
            (2) recommendations for legislation, administrative 
        actions, or other actions the Secretary considers appropriate.

SEC. 4. INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR TRAINING.

    Section 236(a)(2)(A) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
2296(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``$220,000,000'' and inserting 
``$300,000,000''.

SEC. 5. INCREASE IN CREDIT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS OF TAA AND PBGC 
              PENSION RECIPIENTS; SIMPLIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY 
              DETERMINATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 35 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``65 percent'' and 
inserting ``80 percent''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (b) of section 7527 of such 
Code is amended by striking ``65 percent'' and inserting ``80 
percent''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to amounts paid in taxable years beginning after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (d) Joint Program To Simplify TAA Process.--The Secretary of the 
Treasury and the Secretary of Labor shall each, after consultation with 
each other, carry out compatible and coordinated programs to simplify 
the process for individuals to become eligible for a trade readjustment 
allowance, the credit allowed under section 35 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, and the program for the advance payment of such credit 
under section 7527 of such Code.
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