Senators Collins and King and Representative Poliquin Announce TAA Benefits for Workers at Madison Paper

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Bruce Poliquin announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved much-needed Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for displaced employees at Madison Paper. Last month, Senators Collins and King and Representative Poliquin sent a letter to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez in support of the TAA petition.

"This announcement is welcome news for the more than 200 hardworking men and women at Madison Paper Industries who are being displaced. TAA plays an essential role in helping Americans across our country who, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs as a result of foreign--and often unfair--competition. Our workers are the best in the world, and they can compete when there is a level playing field. TAA programs provide a crucial lifeline that enables displaced workers to acquire the new skills and training necessary to prepare for and pursue jobs in other industries," said Senators Collins and King and Representative Poliquin in a joint statement.

TAA is a program of the Department of Labor that helps workers who have lost their jobs as a result of increased imports or a shift of production outside of the United States. TAA provides these trade-affected workers with a variety of reemployment services and benefits to help them find new jobs and get back to work.

In the 2013 fiscal year alone, more than 700 Mainers used TAA programs, and more than 70 percent of those participants found employment within three months of completing their retraining programs. In addition, of the participants who found employment, more than 90 percent were still employed in their new jobs six months later.

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