[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 14 (Thursday, February 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2002

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, the financial rewards from international 
trade are enormous. I know this firsthand because my Congressional 
district is part of the largest exporting region in our country. Trade 
provides enormous benefits to our economy so it is appropriate for us 
to dedicate a small fraction of these rewards to workers who are 
displaced because of trade.
  Forty years ago Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) was created for 
U.S. workers who lost their jobs because of foreign competition. The 
program has suffered from a number of significant problems including 
inadequate funding for training, lack of health care coverage, and the 
existence of a separate program under NAFTA which has created confusion 
and inconsistencies in the program. TAA also does not currently cover 
farmers, suppliers, and downstream producers who face similar pressure 
from international competition.
  Representative Ken Bentsen and I have introduced the Trade Adjustment 
Assistance Act, H.R. 3670 to remedy these and other problems with the 
program. The bill harmonizes NAFTA-TAA and TAA, broadens eligibility 
for downstream producers, suppliers, farmers, fishermen, truckers, and 
taconite producers, expands income support from 52 weeks to 78 weeks 
and increases funding for training and TAA for firms. For the first 
time a healthcare benefit for displaced workers is provided and the 
bill establishes an Office of Community Assistance to provide technical 
assistance to trade impacted communities.
  It is critical that we bring Trade Adjustment Assistance policies 
into the 21st century so that our policies actually meet the needs of 
our workforce. H.R. 3670 does exactly this. It reforms a 40-year-old 
program by embracing its original intent and combines it with the needs 
of a 21st century world and workforce.

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