Programs offsetting unfair foreign trade are winners for business, workers
Mansfield News Journal – When Congress rushes through foreign trade agreements, proponents assure us that we'll take care of the workers affected by unfair foreign trade.
Last week, the Senate had the chance to match its words with actions by passing an extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program and the improved Health Coverage Tax Credit.
Both programs expired Feb. 12. Legislation to extend them passed the House last year with strong bipartisan support.
This legislation would have continued critical reforms to the Trade Adjustment Assistance program — which helps dislocated workers who lost their jobs due to unfair foreign trade — retrain for new jobs. Last July, more than 100 workers at ArcelorMittal Tubular Products in Shelby were certified for Trade Adjustment Assistance when an upstream supplier shipped production-and jobs-overseas.
