Congressman Sander Levin

Trade and Globalization Assistance

I believe that as we re-establish good trade policy that stands up for U.S. businesses and workers in the global market place, we must also fix the broken Trade Adjustment Assistance Act. Each year, Michigan workers have been placed on waiting lists for training, workers have not received the advanced training they need, and too many have been unable to utilize the health care tax credit. We can compete in the global economy, but we must have programs that fully support workers displaced by globalization in their transition to new, good paying jobs.

The federal government must take action to address the manufacturing jobs crisis and this Congress, I have been working hard on legislation that will renew and strengthen Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and reform Unemployment Insurance. The Trade and Globalization Assistance Act, which the House approved on October 31st with a vote of 264 to 157, will not only improve job training and expand it to more workers who have lost their jobs due to trade, but the bill will also make it easier for trade-effected workers to afford health care. H.R. 3920 encourages and rewards states for making important reforms to their unemployment insurance programs so that more jobless Americans can receive the resources they need to re-enter the workforce.