Doris Matsui: “If, in fact, the bill that came out of the Senate was part of the conference report, I would say, well, okay, if you…”

“If, in fact, the bill that came out of the Senate was part of the conference report, I would say, well, okay, if you want trade adjustment assistance, that is fine. But the bill that came out of the conference report is not the bill that left the Senate. Because essentially what we see here is a bill that is really kind of a mirage. For example, if a U.S. factory closes and goes overseas to China and 5,000 U.S. workers are out of a job in your congressional district, those workers are not covered under this bill of trade adjustment assistance. They will not get trade adjustment assistance and they will not get health care benefits. It is very rare when this provision will be used, and that is why it is in the bill because the goal was not to use trade adjustment assistance. So it is really a mirage. So if Members think they can go home and tell their colleagues and their constituents that they will get trade adjustment assistance, they are flat out wrong. It will rarely be used.”