[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 75 (Monday, June 10, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5287-S5288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 2606. A bill to require the Secretary of Labor to establish a 
trade adjustment assistance program for certain service workers, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, today I am introducing legislation to 
make truckers eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance, TAA. A similar 
provision was in the original Finance Committee package of trade 
legislation that we recently considered in the Senate. Unfortunately, 
this provision was removed in last minute negotiations.
  Currently, Mexican trucks bring goods into the United States must 
transfer those goods to an American truck at the border. On June 30, 
2002, that will change. Mexican trucks will be allowed into the 
country, and as a result, hard-working Americans will lose their jobs. 
Future trade agreements may make the problem even greater. However, 
these laid-off truckers will not be eligible for TAA.
  TAA exists out of recognition that our decision on trade in 
Washington cause very specific groups of American workers to lose jobs. 
TAA provides those workers with the assistance they need to 
successfully transition to new jobs.
  New trade rules that allow foreign truckers to operate in the United 
States beginning June 30, 2002 will cause an American trucker to lose 
his or her job just as much as new trade rules cause a textile worker 
to lose his or her job. Providing TAA assistance to both of these 
groups of workers is right because neither lost their job through any 
fault of their own--both will have lost their job as a result of new 
rules we create in Washington.
  American union truck drivers are some of the hardest working and 
finest paid in the world. They make about $50,000 a year as a starting 
salary and receive great benefits. And nonunion drivers make $35,000 to 
$40,000 a year plus benefits. Compare these figures with the salaries 
of foreign truckers that will now operate in the United States or going 
to operate in the United States in the near future. Mexican drivers 
make dramatically less than American truckers, about $18,000 a year at 
best and few benefits. They are also allowed to drive recklessly long 
hours at that low pay. American truckers cannot compete with that. 
Those who lose their jobs as a result of this new competition allowed 
for by trade law should have access to TAA assistance.
  The legislation I am introducing will direct the Secretary of Labor 
to establish a program to provide TAA assistance to any domestic 
operator of a motor carrier who is adversely affected by competition 
from any foreign owned or operated motor carrier. The act also directs 
the Secretary of labor to report to Congress within 2 years on 
adversely affected service workers and recommend legislation that the 
Secretary considers appropriate for extending TAA to service workers as 
well.
  The TAA program will remain inadequate as long as any workers are 
losing jobs directly as a result of trade agreements and not getting 
the help they need to participate in the new economy. The trade debate 
has not adequately considered the fate of those who lose from trade. It 
is our responsibility to make sure that these hard-working Americans 
have a voice in this debate and that they and their families are able 
to reap the rewards of trade instead of just suffer its consequences.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2606

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

     SECTION 1. TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the 
     Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002, the Secretary 
     shall establish a program to provide assistance under chapter 
     2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2271 et 
     seq.), as amended by the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform 
     Act of 2002, to provide trade adjustment assistance to any 
     domestic operator of a motor carrier who is adversely 
     affected by competition from any foreign owned or operated 
     motor carrier.

     SEC. 2. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORT.

       (a) Data Collection System.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of enactment of the Trade Adjustment Assistance 
     Reform Act of 2002, the Secretary shall put in place a system 
     to collect data on adversely affected service workers that 
     includes the number of workers by State, industry, and cause 
     of dislocation for each worker.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 
     2002, the Secretary shall report to Congress proposed methods 
     to extend the programs under chapter 2 of title II of the 
     Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2271 et seq.) to adversely 
     affected service workers. The report shall include any 
     recommendations for legislation that the Secretary considers 
     appropriate regarding such programs.

[[Page S5288]]

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Labor.
       (2) Trade adjustment assistance reform act of 2002.--The 
     term ``Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002'' means 
     the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002, or any 
     other Act enacted during the second session of the 107th 
     Congress to provide trade adjustment assistance.

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