(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) lent her support to legislation introduced today that would provide much needed help to additional workers and communities impacted by foreign competition.
The Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2007, written by Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), would expand Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) beyond manufacturing workers so that it also covers service-sector workers, streamlines eligibility for farmers, fishermen and active duty military personnel, increases the health care tax credit, and establishes a new program for rural communities adversely impacted by federal trade policies. TAA currently provides job retraining, income support and health care benefits to manufacturing workers.
Senator Murray is an original co-sponsor of the bipartisan bill, which was introduced in the Senate today.
"Washington is the most trade dependent state in the nation. Overall, trade has created new jobs and economic growth for Washington state. But in some cases, trade has disrupted American jobs, and this bill will help those workers and communities that have been negatively impacted by trade," Murray said. "As chairman of the Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee, I’m committed to supporting American workers with the resources they need."
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