Letter to Harry M. Reid, Senate Majority Leader, Senator for Nevada; Mitch McConnell, Republican Leader, Senator for Kentucky

Letter

U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins expressed their continued support for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs today in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. Congress passed an extension of TAA programs on December 22, 2010, but that is set to expire on February 13th. Senators Snowe and Collins urged the Senate Leadership to extend TAA and secure a long-term reauthorization as the chamber considers key trade and competitiveness initiatives.

"Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits undoubtedly aid workers in Maine and across the nation who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, by helping them regain their footing and find new employment," Senators Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. "We not only reiterate our support for TAA benefits which are vital to workers and their families in Maine, especially during this harsh economic climate, but we also call on the Senate Leadership to work with us to extend these services and consider a long-term re-authorization in a timely manner."

TAA is a program that provides aid to workers who lose their jobs; or whose hours of work and wages are reduced, as a result of increased imports. TAA offers a variety of benefits and re-employment services to assist unemployed workers to prepare for and obtain suitable employment. The program is administered by the federal government and various state agencies. The agencies act as federal agents in providing program information, processing applications, determining individual worker eligibility for benefits, issuing payments and providing re-employment services and training opportunities. States are reimbursed from federal general revenues for benefit payments and other costs incurred under the program.

The full text of the letter follows:

February 8, 2011

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Leader McConnell:

As our nation continues to recover from the worst economic recession in a generation, we are writing to express our continued support for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs. With nearly 14 million people unemployed across this country, including more than 50,000 in Maine, TAA has been absolutely critical when it comes to assisting American workers whose trade-sensitive jobs have been adversely affected by increases in foreign imports or shifts in production overseas.

Over the last several years we have worked with our colleagues to reform and expand TAA, and as a result, thousands of eligible workers have been certified to receive job training and other crucial services necessary to prepare for and obtain suitable employment. In fact, key trade-impacted industries in our state -- such as Maine's pulp and paper manufacturing sector, lobstermen, and blueberry growers -- view TAA as a crucial lifeline for those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Although TAA does not address all of the concerns facing communities impacted by trade, industries in Maine have expressed strong support for a continuation of these vital training and reemployment programs.

As you know, on December 22, 2010, Congress passed by unanimous consent a six-week extension of TAA, which is set to expire on February 13th. We have been working with our colleagues to extend TAA and provide funding so that families in Maine and across the U.S. have the tools and resources to prepare for new employment opportunities. As such, we strongly believe that extending TAA and securing a long-term reauthorization of these programs are paramount as the Senate considers key trade and competitiveness initiatives.

Thank you for your attention to this timely matter. We look forward to working with you to extend TAA and assist American workers.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe
U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins

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