Statement by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on Passage of The Trade and Globalization Assistance Act

For Immediate Release                                             
Contact: Steve Smith 202-637-5018

Statement by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney

on Passage of The Trade and Globalization Assistance Act

October 31, 2007

The House of Representatives took a strong stand for America's working families by passing the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act (TGA), which provides a critical safety net for the millions of workers who lose their jobs every year due to off-shoring and increased imports.  Our nation has lost 3 million family-supporting manufacturing jobs on Bush's watch alone.  Flawed trade policy continues to send manufacturing and service sector jobs overseas, and working men and women need the assistance of TGA more than ever.

The TGA offers much-needed improvements to the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which was designed to help workers devastated by trade-related job loss get back on their feet. While TAA is an important safeguard for working people, funding shortages have left many out in the cold as they've sought help after losing a job. The bill that passed the House today doubles the funding available to assist more workers in training for new careers.  The bill also improves the health-care benefits available to trade-displaced workers and extends eligibility to service-sector and public workers who have lost their jobs due to trade or off-shoring.

Today's victory for workers may be short-lived, however, if President Bush follows through on his callous threat to veto the bill.  A veto would show trade-displaced workers and communities just where Bush's priorities lie - - with giant corporate multi-nationals.  It would also jeopardize the President's trade agenda at a time when support for trade liberalization remains precarious. 

Our nation's leaders must set a new course on trade that would protect jobs and strengthen workers' rights.  Until that happens, working families need the vital protections offered by an improved and expanded TAA.  We call upon President Bush to do the right thing by signing this critical measure into law.