[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 26 (Thursday, February 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S860-S861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              TAA AND ATPA

  Mrs. HAGAN. Mr. President, I rise today to urge the Senate to quickly 
pass a long-term extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance, TAA, 
program for workers, as well as the Andean Trade Preference program. 
These programs make our workforce more competitive in the global 
marketplace and support jobs in North Carolina.
  Both are critical Federal programs to North Carolina, and both 
expired this past Saturday.
  North Carolina's workforce has been particularly hard hit as 
manufacturing has suffered, factories have closed, and companies have 
moved operations overseas.
  The TAA program for workers offers benefits, including job 
retraining, to workers displaced by imports or a shift of production to 
other countries. Once a laid-off worker has exhausted State 
unemployment benefits, he or she can qualify to receive supplemental 
benefits under TAA.
  These include weekly cash payments equal to unemployment benefits. To 
qualify, the worker must be involved in job retraining.
  TAA payments can last for 52 weeks if a worker is in job training and 
26 weeks more if a worker needs remedial education.
  Many North Carolinians who have lost their jobs through no fault of 
their own have turned to our network of affordable community colleges 
to retool their skills.
  Yesterday, I met with trustees for the North Carolina Community 
College System, which is among the best in the Nation.
  These leaders told me how valuable it is for these laid-off workers 
to get a community college education and gain the necessary skills to 
be competitive in today's job market.
  I agree wholeheartedly. Since coming to the Senate I have advocated 
to expand and enhance the TAA program for workers. In the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we significantly enhanced TAA programs 
by expanding eligibility and increasing the training funds available to 
States by 160 percent, or $575 million per fiscal year.
  Earlier this month, I was among a group of Senators who sent a letter 
to leaders in the House of Representatives asking that they quickly 
introduce and pass a long-term extension of TAA, which is something 
they did in a bipartisan way last December.
  Since Congress expanded this crucial program, over 17,000 North 
Carolinians have been certified for assistance under TAA.
  Last year, displaced workers in North Carolina received over $56 
million through TAA--the second largest amount given to a single State 
to help workers develop new skills and find new jobs.
  Though we are making progress in turning around our economy, that 
doesn't mean much if you are one of the 430,000 North Carolinians still 
out of work.
  One North Carolinian, Wayne Kizewski, is 42 years old and 2 years ago 
lost his job at a Cary company that molded plastic parts for Chrysler. 
Wayne used the TAA program to go back to school at Wake Technical 
Community College to study information systems.
  Wayne was also able to receive help from the TAA program to pay for 
80 percent of his health insurance premiums, including coverage for his 
5-year-old son.
  I hear from business owners all the time who tell me that workers in 
North Carolina have a work ethic that is second to none. When these men 
and women lose their jobs through no fault of their own they are 
determined to continue providing for their families, and this program 
allows them to go back to school and retool their skills for the 21st-
century economy.
  With our State's excellent community colleges, we can get our 
workforce prepared to lead the way in emerging industries.
  The TAA program for workers is essential to maintaining our Nation's 
global competitiveness and supporting workers in North Carolina and 
across the country.
  I would also like to address the Andean Trade Preference program.
  I know my colleagues from Arizona and Ohio were on the floor earlier 
discussing both TAA and the Andean Trade Preference program.
  I know that extending this program is important to my friends on the 
other side of the aisle. It is important to me too as this program has 
an impact on jobs in North Carolina.

[[Page S861]]

  For example, one of the products eligible for preferential treatment 
under this agreement is apparel made of U.S. combed-cotton yarn, much 
of which is made by workers in North Carolina.
  In fact, one North Carolina company, Parkdale Mills, exports 1 
million pounds of cotton yarn annually that is valued at $2 million.
  These exports support more than 100 jobs in North Carolina.
  Earlier this week I received a letter from the CEO of Parkdale Mills. 
He wrote, ``a lapse of duty free benefits, even if a short period of 
time, is catastrophic to our business.''
  Over the last 4 years, the Andean program has been extended or 
renewed three different times, often at the last minute.
  American firms doing business in the Andean region do not know from 
year to year whether they will pay duties or not. That is no way to run 
a business.
  So I agree with my colleague, the senior Senator for Arizona, that a 
long-term extension of this program is important.
  I believe we should be able to extend both of these programs, TAA and 
ATPA, together. I know that my colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator 
Casey, made a number of unanimous consent requests last week to do just 
that. The bill that Senator Brown asked consent to pass earlier would 
provide an 18 month extension of both programs.
  Mr. President, these programs have bipartisan support. Workers and 
businesses need the certainty and support they provide. We should 
extend them as soon as possible.

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