The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRADE AND GLOBALIZATION ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2007” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2305 on Nov. 1, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRADE AND GLOBALIZATION ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2007
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speech of
HON. HILDA L. SOLIS
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3920, the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007. This bill will provide American workers displaced by globalization and trade policy with the necessary tools and assurance to compete in the global economy.
Created in 1962, the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program offers trade-displaced workers up to two years of job training and income support while they transition to different jobs often in new sectors. Unfortunately, for too long, thousands of our workers have been denied services they are otherwise eligible to receive because of a lack of funding or restrictive interpretations of current law. H.R. 3920 bridges this gap, by not only doubling training funds to $440 million but also by providing states with funds for vital outreach to ensure that our workers are not lost or forgotten in this increasing global age. Eighty percent of all workers in the United States work in the service sector industry and I am proud that for the first time they will be fully eligible for coverage through this legislation.
H.R. 3920 also intends to protect our most vulnerable workers--women and minorities. While Latinos represent 12.6 percent of the total U.S. workforce, they account for 26 percent of textile and apparel industry workers. In California, Latinos make up an estimated 80 percent of the California garment industry, which has been especially hard-hit by NAFTA's impact. As a result, Latino workers have been significantly hurt by poorly crafted trade policy. According to the Department of Labor, 47 percent of individuals that applied for NAFTA's TAA program due to lay offs were Latino.
Unfortunately, President Bush is threatening to veto this legislation, continuing his policy of favoring wealthy Americans over middle-class workers. I believe that it is well past time to acknowledge the hard fact that trade policy has had a negative impact on our nation's workers and it is our job to give them the support they need to be active members of our workforce. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, so we can provide displaced workers with the tools and resources necessary to compete in the 21st century, and I urge President Bush to reconsider his callous threat and stand with us to support American workers and American jobs.
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