Honda Statement on Trade Adjustment Assistance Program

Statement

Today, Congressman Mike Honda (D-Silicon Valley) issued the following statement on the Trade Adjustment Assistance program that is about to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives:

"The Trade Adjustment Assistance program has provided crucial benefits to over 2 million workers since its creation in 1974. In our district alone, 11,779 workers who lost their jobs as a result of free trade agreements have benefited from the TAA program since 2009.

"I am a firm supporter of having a robust and inclusive TAA program, especially as the United States is considering major new trade agreements. The TAA bill that is before Congress today, however, is poisoned and it is impossible for me to support it. Today's bill underfunds the TAA program by over 20%, failing to provide the funds necessary to provide benefits for eligible displaced workers.

"The bill also fails to cover public sector workers that lose their jobs as a result of offshoring. Additionally, the bill before Congress funds TAA by extending the devastating Medicare sequester cuts. Though some claim it may be possible to address this funding issue in future legislation, there is no guarantee that the final bill will not retain this Medicare defunding provision.

"I cannot cast a vote in support of an underfunded TAA bill that ignores public sector workers and is propped up on the back of continued cuts to Medicare."

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