Like Causes?

Install the App
TRY NOW
Countable Is Officially Causes.com

house Bill H.R. 1892

If You Lose Your Job Because of a Trade Agreement — Should the Gov't Retrain You for New Jobs?

Argument in favor

When U.S. workers lose their jobs because of trade — through no fault of their own — it should be up to programs like the TAA to help those workers and their families transition into new careers to get back on their feet in the U.S. economy.

Greg's Opinion
···
05/15/2015
Actually the profiting corporations should pay.
Like (52)
Follow
Share
PacificCstar's Opinion
···
06/11/2015
As long as there are strict limits on the training time so people aren't taking advantage of the system.
Like (9)
Follow
Share
Matthew's Opinion
···
05/11/2015
This trade agreement shouldn't even be approved. We've already seen how past trade agreements have destroyed middle class jobs and lives and communities.
Like (5)
Follow
Share

Argument opposed

Why should U.S. workers be retrained to accommodate trade agreements that are tanking the job market? The workers aren't the problem, the trade agreements are. Plus, this program is funded with budget gimmicks, and has proven to be ineffective.

BernieSanders's Opinion
···
05/19/2015
"We must rebuild American manufacturing and rewrite our trade agreements so that our largest export is not our jobs. #TPP"
Like (151)
Follow
Share
Elinor's Opinion
···
05/11/2015
The federal government should NEVER make trade agreements that have a deleterious effect on U.S. citizens. Remember us? Your constituents and employers? YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING FOR US!
Like (33)
Follow
Share
Cynthia's Opinion
···
05/12/2015
The government should not pay to retrain, the companies that ship the jobs overseas to save a buck should have to pay to retrain. It's time for them to own up to what they do to the American economy and work to correct the problems they cause.
Like (7)
Follow
Share

What is House Bill H.R. 1892?

This bill would reauthorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) — a program that offers job training and assistance to U.S. workers who lose their jobs to trade agreements. The program tries to lessen the blow of jobs being outsourced to other countries by connecting U.S. workers with other opportunities. 

U.S. workers in industries ranging from small businesses, agriculture, fishing, or service and manufacturing can be impacted by trade agreements. Employees from all of these sectors (and more) would continue to be eligible for training in new career skills if their jobs are farmed out of the country. 

This bill would also offer a tax credit to TAA covered workers to help them afford health insurance. The TAA would be reauthorized through 2021, and it would otherwise be set to expire at the end of the 2015 fiscal year.

Impact

Workers who lose their job as a result of international trade agreements, the Department of Labor.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 1892

$636.00 Million
The CBO analyzed this legislation and found that implementing this bill would decrease deficits by $88 million over the 2015-2025 period through offsetting changes in revenues and spending in 2020 and 2025. However, for 2015, the bill would increase spending by $636 million over the 2015-2015 period — assuming the money is authorized.

More Information

In-Depth: In 2013, the TAA program provided assistance to nearly 105,000 American workers (according to bill sponsors). 2010 figures have TAA helping closer to 228,000 workers.

The Senate version of this legislation was introduced on a bipartisan basis by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). Sen. Collins called the TAA: 

“a crucial lifeline for many employees in trade-impacted industries who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.” 

Sen. Wyden praised this legislation for expanding TAA programs to “broad new segments of the workforce, including service workers and those in manufacturing, to receive training so they can better compete and win in the global economy.”

The Heritage Foundation published a research paper criticizing this legislation for using budgeting gimmicks to comply with requirements that the bill and it's reauthorization remain deficit neutral. The research paper also included a table based on Department of Labor data showing that TAA participants earn less and work less than comparable workers, despite closing the gap over the course of four years.

Other provisions of this bill include: 

Data collection and reporting requirements under this bill would require reports on:

  • The number of workers receiving TAA assistance, 
  • Their incomes, 
  • Education backgrounds, 
  • And either unemployment benefits or other re-training programs they’ve participated in.

Media:


Summary by Eric Revell 
(Photo Credit: "AlfredPalmerwelder1" by Alfred T. Palmer - Library of Congress: Call number LC-USW36-15, Reproduction number LC-DIG-fsac-1a35232 [P&P]. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

AKA

Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015

Official Title

To extend the trade adjustment assistance program, and for other purposes.

bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The senate has not voted
  • The house has not voted
      house Committees
      Committee on the Budget
      Trade
      Committee on Energy and Commerce
      Health
      Committee on Ways and Means
    IntroducedApril 17th, 2015
    Greg's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    05/15/2015
    Actually the profiting corporations should pay.
    Like (52)
    Follow
    Share
    BernieSanders's Opinion Against
    ···
    05/19/2015
    "We must rebuild American manufacturing and rewrite our trade agreements so that our largest export is not our jobs. #TPP"
    Like (151)
    Follow
    Share
    Elinor's Opinion Against
    ···
    05/11/2015
    The federal government should NEVER make trade agreements that have a deleterious effect on U.S. citizens. Remember us? Your constituents and employers? YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING FOR US!
    Like (33)
    Follow
    Share
    PacificCstar's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    06/11/2015
    As long as there are strict limits on the training time so people aren't taking advantage of the system.
    Like (9)
    Follow
    Share
    Cynthia's Opinion Against
    ···
    05/12/2015
    The government should not pay to retrain, the companies that ship the jobs overseas to save a buck should have to pay to retrain. It's time for them to own up to what they do to the American economy and work to correct the problems they cause.
    Like (7)
    Follow
    Share
    Matthew's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    05/11/2015
    This trade agreement shouldn't even be approved. We've already seen how past trade agreements have destroyed middle class jobs and lives and communities.
    Like (5)
    Follow
    Share
    Aidan-WC's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    04/24/2016
    There should always be an occupational opportunity regardless of your light mistakes. You learn from your mistakes and then you improve. If you are not productive on a trade agreement and you are removed from your job, this is outrageous because our current trading economy with foreign nations is erratic and we are manipulated by trade agreements. It should not automatically be the Blame of the employee, ITS THE CORPORATIONS wrong Doings. Industries and companies positively impact their business by educating their employees as well
    Like (4)
    Follow
    Share
    joshualogancook's Opinion Against
    ···
    05/11/2015
    I don't see how the government would be capable of handling the retraining in an efficient manner
    Like (3)
    Follow
    Share
    Mrs. r.'s Opinion In Favor
    ···
    05/13/2015
    There is a better solution though; BRING THE JOBS BACK TO THE U.S. AND STOP MAKING IT SO DARNED HARD FOR BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTRY; ESP. SMALL BUSINESS.
    Like (3)
    Follow
    Share
    Garry's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    05/11/2015
    It's their fault for enacting it. They need to make sure you can get a new job!
    Like (3)
    Follow
    Share
    Cary's Opinion Against
    ···
    05/12/2015
    Isn't the point of a trade agreement to have a net positive economic benefit? You break eggs when you make an omelet.
    Like (3)
    Follow
    Share
    xxxxxxx's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    05/11/2015
    Help people get jobs!
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Julie's Opinion Against
    ···
    12/11/2016
    While I agree that workers should be able to benefit from a retraining program since it's not their fault that the jobs are gone, I disagree that businesses should be allowed to make trade agreements to ship jobs overseas. We would be better off focusing on making sure there are more jobs for American citizens and not allowing corporations to "make a quick buck" by taking away our jobs and sending them elsewhere.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Logan's Opinion Against
    ···
    07/20/2016
    Keep manufacturing in house. We must have a larger export market
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Jeffers's Opinion Against
    ···
    05/12/2015
    Dependency on government leads to poverty. Look at the growth of Government to the growth of poverty. The smaller the government the less people fall into poverty.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Srbelken's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    02/06/2019
    Job assistance is especially important to this case
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    NACSP's Opinion Against
    ···
    03/16/2016
    Those who lose their jobs due to a trade agreement are an unfortunate casualty. Trade agreements benefit the United States, and should not be held fully responsible, as they create new jobs in turn and help the economy overall.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Lisa's Opinion Against
    ···
    05/11/2015
    They should get the jobs of the ones who signed the trade agreement.
    Like (1)
    Follow
    Share
    Chris's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    05/25/2016
    I truly believe in an America that helps its citizens when outside forces beyond their control, causes them to lose their job, and help a hardworking American family in need of some help. That isn't asking the world and having a positive and productive relationship with government is not a bad thing.
    Like (1)
    Follow
    Share
    Robert's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    05/11/2015
    If the government makes trade agreements that cause Americans to lose their job it's their responsibility to fix it
    Like (1)
    Follow
    Share
    MORE