[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 URGING MEMBERS TO PASS STRONGEST POSSIBLE TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE 
                         FOR AMERICA'S WORKERS

  (Mr. SMITH of Washington asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, the Senate is considering the 
President's request for trade promotional authority right now, and at 
the same time, connected to it, trade adjustment assistance, help for 
workers who have lost their jobs.
  I rise today to urge the Senate today to pass the strongest possible 
trade adjustment assistance packages. Workers desperately need help 
dealing with the new economy. It is a land of opportunity for all of 
us, but there are also challenges. Workers must continually have access 
to training and education to update their skills. They also need the 
health care benefits necessary to carry them during periods of 
unemployment, and they also need income assistance to help them as they 
move forward and try to find new jobs.
  I am a strong supporter of trade. As a new Democrat, it is one of our 
top priority issues to open trade throughout the world and give us 
access to other markets.
  Connected to that, however, we have to help the workers of our 
country deal with the challenges and opportunities that come along with 
that. There must be a strong health care component. There must be job 
training and education available.
  If the Senate were to put together that type of package and pass a 
trade promotional assistance bill with a strong trade adjustment 
assistance piece, I am very confident they would be able to pass it in 
the House, and they would move forward on two critical policies for 
this country.

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