I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1729 

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

assistance program, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 28, 2007 

Mr. HAYES (for himself, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. COBLE, Mr. 

PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mrs. 

MYRICK, Mr. SHULER, Mr. MILLER of North Carolina, and Mr. WATT) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 

Ways and Means 

A BILL 

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

adjustment assistance program, 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’’. 

mmaher on PROD1PC60 with BILLS

2 

•HR 1729 IH

1 SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF DISPLACED TEXTILE AND APPAREL 

2 WORKERS FOR TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSIST3 ANCE. 

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

5 2272) is amended— 

6 (1) in subsection (a)— 

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

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

9 subsection (d), a group’’; and 

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

11 clause (ii) to read as follows: 

12 ‘‘(ii) there has been or is likely to be an in13 crease in imports of articles that are like or directly 

14 competitive with articles which are or were produced 

15 by such firm or subdivision.’’; and 

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

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

18 of workers in a firm that produces textiles or apparel prod19 ucts, the Secretary shall make the determination under 

20 subsection (a) of the eligibility of such workers for trade 

21 adjustment assistance under this chapter without regard 

22 to paragraph (2) of subsection (a).’’. 

23 SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES FOR STATES. 

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

25 2313) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

mmaher on PROD1PC60 with BILLS

3 

•HR 1729 IH

1 ‘‘(d) Funds that the Secretary provides to a State 

2 to cover administrative costs associated with the perform3 ance of the State’s responsibilities under section 239 shall 

4 be sufficient to cover all costs of the State associated with 

5 operating the trade adjustment assistance program, in6 cluding case worker costs.’’. 

7 SEC. 4. INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR TRAINING. 

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

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

10 ‘‘$220,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$440,000,000’’. 

11 SEC. 5. INCREASE IN CREDIT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE 

12 COSTS OF TAA AND PBGC PENSION RECIPI13 ENTS; SIMPLIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY DE14 TERMINATIONS. 

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

16 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 

17 ‘‘65 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘80 percent’’. 

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

19 section 7527 of such Code is amended by striking ‘‘65 per20 cent’’ and inserting ‘‘80 percent’’. 

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

22 this section shall apply to amounts paid in taxable years 

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

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

25 The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor 

mmaher on PROD1PC60 with BILLS

4 

•HR 1729 IH

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

2 compatible and coordinated programs to simplify the proc3 ess for individuals to become eligible for a trade readjust4 ment allowance, the credit allowed under section 35 of the 

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

6 advance payment of such credit under section 7527 of 

7 such Code. 

Æ 

mmaher on PROD1PC60 with BILLS