The National Employment Law Project commended Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and Senator Susan Collins for introducing legislation to reauthorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program through 2020. TAA provides training and reemployment services to workers whose jobs losses are directly related to increased imports or offshoring of jobs.

“Chairman Baucus has provided leadership on TAA for many years. Joined by Senator Collins, he is again providing critical leadership to ensure that the 2011 Act is reauthorized well in advance of its expiration at the end of 2013,” said Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project. Maintaining training and income support for individuals who lose their jobs due to harmful impacts of trade should continue as a bipartisan priority. We urge Congress to promptly take action to make continuation of TAA a reality.”

In recent years, TAA went through a number of changes designed to meet the changing global economy. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 was passed with bi-partisan backing and the support of business, labor, and community organizations. These revisions to TAA have both strengthened and focused the program. For example, the 2011 Act maintained eligibility to service workers impacted by trade. 

“Yesterday’s trade-related auto job losses in Michigan are today’s paper industry job losses in Maine, and tomorrow’s job losses in the film industry in California,” continued Owens. “Trade impacts are a recognized cost of international trade. Reauthorizing TAA now will ensure that workers who lose their jobs and livelihoods as a result of U.S. trade policy will have meaningful training and reemployment opportunities in coming years.”

The National Employment Law Project is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts research and advocates on issues affecting low-wage and unemployed workers. For more about NELP, visit www.nelp.org