WALLY HERGER: “losing a job is one of the most disruptive events that can occur to a worker and a family. We should be helping these…”

“losing a job is one of the most disruptive events that can occur to a worker and a family. We should be helping these individuals to get back to work as soon as possible. That's why I support the trade adjustment assistance and why I introduced a short-term extension of the program to assist workers displaced by trade through December. Unfortunately, I cannot support today's bill. In addition to expanding the TAA program, which already costs the American taxpayers nearly $1 billion each year, the majority shuts out numerous Republican suggestions that would have instilled accountability and increased flexibility for workers. One provision of their bill eliminates a State's ability to choose the best employees to administer TAA by requiring so-called State merit-based employees to run the program. This means that the 25 States that currently use local employees or outside contractors like nonprofit or community-based groups to operate a more efficient and effective TAA program will no longer be able to do so and will be required to hire more government workers. I'm also amazed that the majority rejected our proposal to increase accountability by requiring States and organizations that receive TAA to meet performance measures. It should be the goal of all Members to see that taxpayers' dollars are spent wisely, and the lack of such measures is a fundamental shortcoming of the bill.”