WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) today made the following statement in reference to Trade Adjustment Assistance and the pending Free Trade Agreements with Korea, Panama and Colombia:
“Republicans since February have refused to act on an extension of the expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance program that provides vital job retraining assistance for workers who have lost their jobs because of globalization. Legislation to extend the program was ready for action nearly six months ago, but the Republican leadership failed to bring it up because of opposition within the Republican ranks.
“What is needed has been clear all along. Republicans should welcome the submission of the expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance program - as revised through recent negotiations by Republicans and Democrats in June - with the Korea FTA.
“Republicans have no one to blame but themselves for standing in the way of consideration of the pending FTAs."
