[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15989-S15990]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, today, we face a major setback to the 
effort to advance American exports and freer international trade. Some 
on the other side of the aisle are threatening to kill trade adjustment 
assistance, or TAA.
  Trade adjustment assistance provides training, health, and income 
benefits to trade-displaced workers. It has been integral to America's 
trade policy since 1962. That is when President Kennedy first created 
the program.
  TAA has helped America's workers to improve their competitiveness. It 
has helped workers to retrain and retool. And it has provided Americans 
the security of knowing that the government will help them if trade 
causes a displacement.
  Trade adjustment assistance has been vital to my home State of 
Montana. Since the last TAA reauthorization in 2002, more than 1,500 
Montanans have participated in the TAA program. It has helped workers 
especially in the lumber industry to retrain and re-enter the 
workforce.
  In May, one particular Montanan, Jerry Ann Ross of Eureka, testified 
about trade adjustment assistance before the Senate Finance Committee. 
Jerry's story is like that of many Montanans who have been laid off 
from American lumber mills.
  Jerry worked at a lumber mill for 13 years. But then in 2005, she 
lost her job. That is when she became eligible for trade adjustment 
assistance. With TAA's help, Jerry entered a training program at 
Flathead Valley Community College. She expects to graduate this month.
  With TAA's help, Jerry has updated her skills. She has made herself 
more competitive in the workforce as a construction superintendent and 
an accountant. Jerry's is one of many TAA success stories around the 
country.
  At the Finance Committee hearing, we also learned that the current 
trade adjustment assistance is not perfect. It needs to be updated. We 
need to improve it to reflect today's globalized economy.
  That is why in July, along with Senator Olympia Snowe, I introduced 
the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act. Our bill would 
correct the flaws of today's program.
  Our bill would extend TAA benefits to service workers. Service 
workers account for four out of five jobs in our economy. Our bill 
would extend TAA benefits to workers whose companies outsource to 
China, India, and other countries with which America does not have a 
free-trade agreement. Our bill would increase training funds for 
States. It would make sure that States have enough money to retrain 
workers. And our bill would increase the portion of the health care tax 
credit that the

[[Page S15990]]

Government provides to ensure that trade-displaced workers have access 
to health care coverage while they are retraining.
  The House passed similar legislation in November. But the Senate has 
not yet completed the job. That is why a 3-month extension of trade 
adjustment assistance is critical. It would keep the current program 
going. It would provide time for Congress to complete its work on 
reauthorizing the program.
  Last week, the House passed a 3-month extension of the TAA program. 
The House bill is fully offset. It is noncontroversial. That bill 
should have passed easily in the Senate. But instead, some on the other 
side of the aisle have chosen to hold it up. Their dispute is over an 
unrelated issue. As a consequence, some on the other side of the aisle 
are close to allowing trade adjustment assistance to expire.
  TAA expiration would send a horrible message to America's workers, 
especially those who depend on trade adjustment assistance. TAA 
expiration would also send a terrible message about the 2008 trade 
agenda. If the Senate cannot pass a 3-month extension of trade 
adjustment assistance, I am not sure what the Congress can do on trade 
next year.
  Reauthorization and modernization of trade adjustment assistance is 
my No. 1 trade priority for 2008. It is the right thing to do. American 
workers deserve no less.
  Unless Congress passes a robust TAA bill next year, I don't see how 
we can move pending trade agreements. trade adjustment assistance has 
to come first.
  So, Mr. President, I call on my colleagues on the other side of the 
aisle who are holding up this modest extension of trade adjustment to 
think again. I call on them to allow this useful program to continue, 
and I call on them to step back from what could be a major setback to 
American exports and freer international trade.

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