[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           H.R. 3920, THE TRADE AND GLOBALIZATION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2007

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 3920, the Trade and Globalization Act of 2007, and 
commend the Ways and Means, and Education and Labor committees for 
their hard work on this legislation.
  The health of the American economy depends in large part on trade 
with foreign markets. As globalization, technology, and trade 
agreements continue to remove barriers to free trade, we must work to 
ensure that our workers, farmers and small businesses do not suffer 
unfairly for this economic growth. This legislation moves the Trade 
Adjustment Assistance, TAA, program in a new direction with that 
sentiment in mind.
  The current TAA program was created in a different era, and fails to 
address the realities of trade in the 21st century. The Trade and 
Globalization Act expands eligibility for TAA training programs, 
temporary income support and healthcare assistance to include 
manufacturing workers who currently are ineligible for benefits for 
technical reasons, and to service workers who are increasingly losing 
their jobs to outsourcing. It also significantly increases funding for 
these programs, without adding to the deficit, or raising taxes on 
American families. An updated TAA program will allow all trade-
displaced workers to acquire the skills they need to reenter the 
workforce, and the flexibility to choose their most effective path.
  Workers facing the loss of a good job face significant challenges 
beyond the loss of income. To help families prepare for their 
transition, this bill requires employers to provide adequate notice to 
their employees before a layoff, and provides an incentive for states 
to reform their unemployment insurance programs to realize the needs of 
low-income, part-time and female members of the workforce.
  Additionally, this bill recognizes that trade can have significant 
impacts for entire regions of our country, and that American businesses 
are critical to helping workers adapt to the global economy. That is 
why this legislation provides incentives for firms to redevelop and 
hire workers in those communities disproportionately affected by 
international trade.
  We owe our prosperity to our greatest national asset-our American 
workers. I urge you to join me in passing this much needed legislation 
that will assist these workers who keep America's economy strong.

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