WASHINGTON - A bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3920, the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007, today by a vote of 264-157. This landmark legislation would overhaul the current Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program to better meet the needs of American workers and communities affected by globalization.
"The Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007 is the next step in a new trade policy to create and strengthen opportunities for American workers here and abroad. This bill is just the beginning of a growing movement to ensure that the government and the private sector are doing more to reach out to workers, industries and communities affected by trade to help them maintain their competitive edge. Through enhanced education opportunities, worker training, health care benefits and investment incentives, we can move forward with a comprehensive trade policy that combats the negative effects of globalization and eliminates the growing perception that trade is not working for American workers."
H.R. 3920 would expand TAA coverage to more workers, including service workers, and substantially improve the program’s training opportunities and associated health care benefits. The bill also creates new benefits and tax incentives for industries and communities that have been hit hard by trade. Finally, the legislation would promote long-needed reforms to the unemployment insurance system, recognizing that all unemployed workers, not just those who lose their jobs because of trade, deserve our support in getting back on their feet.
