II 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1652 

To amend the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to trade adjustment assistance 

for textile and apparel workers, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 19, 2007 

Mrs. DOLE (for herself and Ms. CANTWELL) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance 

A BILL 

To amend the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to trade 

adjustment assistance for textile and apparel workers, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Trade Adjustment As5 sistance Reform Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF DISPLACED TEXTILE AND APPAREL 

7 WORKERS FOR TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSIST8 ANCE. 

9 Section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 

10 2272) is amended— 


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1 (1) in subsection (a)— 

2 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 

3 by striking ‘‘A group’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to 

4 subsection (d), a group’’; and 

5 (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by amending 

6 clause (ii) to read as follows: 

7 ‘‘(ii) there has been or is likely to be an in8 crease in imports of articles that are like or directly 

9 competitive with articles which are or were produced 

10 by such firm or subdivision.’’; and 

11 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(d) TEXTILE AND APPAREL WORKERS.—In the case 

13 of workers in a firm or subdivision of a firm that produces 

14 textiles or apparel goods, the Secretary shall make the de15 termination under subsection (a) of the eligibility of such 

16 workers for trade adjustment assistance under this chap17 ter without regard to paragraph (2) of subsection (a).’’. 

18 SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES FOR STATES. 

19 Section 241 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 

20 2313) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

21 ‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER COSTS.—Funds 

22 that the Secretary provides to a State to cover administra23 tive costs associated with the performance of the State’s 

24 responsibilities pursuant to section 239 shall be sufficient 

25 to cover all costs of the State associated with operating 


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1 the trade adjustment assistance program, including case 

2 worker costs.’’. 

3 SEC. 4. INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR TRAINING. 

4 Section 236(a)(2)(A) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 

5 U.S.C. 2296(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking 

6 ‘‘$220,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$440,000,000’’. 

7 SEC. 5. INCREASE IN CREDIT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE 

8 COSTS OF TAA AND PBGC PENSION RECIPI9 ENTS; SIMPLIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY DE10 TERMINATIONS. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 35 of the 

12 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 

13 ‘‘65 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘80 percent’’. 

14 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b) of 

15 section 7527 of such Code is amended by striking ‘‘65 per16 cent’’ and inserting ‘‘80 percent’’. 

17 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

18 this section shall apply to amounts paid in taxable years 

19 beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

20 (d) JOINT PROGRAM TO SIMPLIFY TAA PROCESS.— 

21 The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor 

22 shall each, after consultation with each other, carry out 

23 compatible and coordinated programs to simplify the proc24 ess for individuals to become eligible for a trade readjust25 ment allowance, the credit allowed under section 35 of the 


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1 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the program for the 

2 advance payment of such credit under section 7527 of 

3 such Code. 

Æ 


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