Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance program

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the extension of the expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance program:

"Last year, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress made the wise decision to expand Trade Adjustment Assistance eligibility to service sector workers adversely impacted by trade. Prior to that, the program focused solely on workers in the manufacturing sector. The expanded program offers a crucial lifeline to many working families whose breadwinners lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

"In fact, between May 2009 and the end of September, more than 155,000 Americans who may have otherwise been ineligible for assistance were certified to receive the income support and training that they desperately needed. TAA benefits can help participants keep food on the table for their families, and training ensures they are prepared for new employment opportunities.

"Unless Congress takes action, however, the expanded TAA program will expire at the end of 2010. That could leave a great many trade-impacted workers across the country without needed support and services. And it would undermine the progress we are making as a nation toward economic recovery.

"It also merits underscoring that those who receive TAA have lost jobs through no fault of their own and many are actively pursuing training for new careers. In other words, these are experienced workers, firmly committed to putting in the effort to get back on their feet. As a group, they have strong work records, and they are a tremendous asset to our economy. Continuing to help them gain the skills needed to enter good jobs contributes to the overall health of our economy, and it just makes sense.

"As this issue comes to a head over the coming weeks, federal legislators will have an important choice to make. I urge them to keep in mind that America's families still need our help, to make the responsible decision and to extend the expanded TAA program. It is also my hope that Congress acts on our no-cost technical fixes to the TAA Community College and Career Training Program that will help this new program succeed and benefit a broader population of unemployed workers."

Editor's Note: A chart detailing the number of workers covered through the expanded TAA program follows this statement.