WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) issued the following opening remarks during today’s full committee hearing on “Promoting U.S. Worker Competitiveness in a Globalized Economy:
“This committee has the responsibility to be of assistance to workers who have been adversely affected by trade. There are some programs in place that were designed to meet this need, but it is my understanding that past administrations, both Democratic and Republican, have not tried to make these programs effective.
By working very closely with Ranking Member McCrery, Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sandy Levin and Ranking Member Wally Herger, we have been persuasive with the Administration and USTR in forming an understanding that we have to do more to make trade not look like something that is detrimental to American workers, industries and communities.
Certainly, how we treat the workers, industries and towns that have been negatively impacted as a result of trade is very important for the country, for trade and for our multi-national corporations.
But, as we pointed out, we have to go beyond that. Even if it is not related directly to trade, we have a responsibility as a country to help those people economically so they get on their feet and become productive. So, this concept is going to go far beyond TAA as we know it. Most of us believe the current program is broken, so we begin today to fix it as much as we can.
The work we begin here will continue as this committee examines how we can play a role as the Federal Government and private sector moving toward training and education and productivity. Together, we will make certain that - when it comes to this situation being created by trade - we do a much better job than we have. We must accept the fact that this program has not received help from Democrats or Republicans and therefore we are going to do the best we can from what we have to work with."
