United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Health, Education, and Human Services Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1994-11-28 monographic deposited born digital 18 p. GA 1.13:HEHS-95-31 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-31 P0b002ee18039b8d8 f:he95031 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-31 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-31 HEHS-95-31 Employment or training programs Aid for training or employment State-administered programs Federal/state relations Training utilization Vocational education Reductions in force Human resources training Unemployment compensation programs Eligibility determinations NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement Trade Adjustment Assistance Program DOL NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance Program Mexico Canada DOL Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance Program Letter Report HEHS The Labor Department has addressed several shortcomings affecting the North American Free Trade Agreement's (NAFTA) Transitional Adjustment Assistance Program. This program, which was begun in January 1994, provides benefits to workers who have lost their jobs because of increased imports from or production shifts to Mexico and Canada. By shortening its worker certification time frame, Labor was able to make almost all decisions on benefit eligibility within 40 days or less. Also, the state's added role in the certification program ensured rapid response services for workers who filed a petition. Labor broadened the program's eligibility requirements to include secondary workers (those indirectly affected by NAFTA), but limited guidance, unclear authority, and a slow and cumbersome funding mechanism may make it hard for these workers to obtain benefits. In addition, although the program more closely tied cash benefits to training by eliminating waivers and requiring workers to enroll in training, these restrictions have caused some workers to receive incomplete assessments and remedial assistance, along with a limited mix of services. Labor has not addressed some program shortcomings, such as the lack of ongoing support, follow-up, and performance monitoring. Labor has encouraged closer coordination among federal dislocated worker programs but has not formally required states to track participants. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-31/html/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-31.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-31/pdf/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-31.pdf GAO/HEHS-95-31 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-95-31 Letter Report GAO/HEHS-95-31; Dislocated Workers: An Early Look at the NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance Program; Employment or training programs Aid for training or employment State-administered programs Federal/state relations Training utilization Vocational education Reductions in force Human resources training Unemployment compensation programs Eligibility determinations NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement Trade Adjustment Assistance Program DOL NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance Program Mexico Canada DOL Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance Program Public Law 93-618 Public Law 103-182