WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dale Kildee (D-MI) expressed his concerns for Michigan’s
workforce at a recent House Education and Labor Committee hearing that focused on programs that provide wage assistance to those who lose their jobs because of U.S. trade policies. Congressman Kildee is the number two Democrat of the committee.
The Congressman also expressed his strong opposition towards various trade agreements including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
“Many people in Michigan’s workforce have been hit hard by trade agreements losing their ability to provide for their families. We must ensure that TAA and other programs are supporting all eligible workers,” Congressman Kildee said. “I will fight hard to ensure these programs will provide these hard-working people the help they are entitled to.”
The hearing focused on the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program as well as other programs. TAA is provided to workers whose jobs have been sent overseas or cut due to increased imports. The program assists affected workers with reemployment services, income support, health care coverage through Health Coverage Tax Credits, and funding for career training and education.
Services through TAA are limited due to a lack of adequate funding. In fact, the need for TAA support in Michigan has increased by 60% from 2005 to 2006. To address this problem, Congressman Kildee recently helped secure $11,717,661 in federal funds for this program.
Witnesses at the hearing included:
- Dave Bevard, a Maytag employee for 32 years whose plant was closed and moved to Mexico, said he’s grateful for TAA, but it has serious shortcomings.
- Thea Mei Lee, policy director at the AFL-CIO, said that the TAA program and similar initiatives should be expanded to help more workers.
- Stan Dorn, senior reach associate at the Urban Institute, concluded that the Health Coverage Tax Credits program needs to be improved to help those on TAA get affordable health care coverage.
- Bruce G. Herman, executive director of the National Employment Law Center, an organization that works closely with Michigan, said TAA needs to do more to live up to its promise to help those who have lost their jobs due to trade
- Lael Brainard, director of the Brookings Institution’s Global Economy Program, testified that today’s workers face an entirely different career environment.
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