Kendrick Meek: “it is an honor being here to address this piece of legislation, TAA legislation especially, better known as the Trade…”

“it is an honor being here to address this piece of legislation, TAA legislation especially, better known as the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act. It is very, very important to the progress of trade. Also, it is important to many States out there in the Union. I think it is important. I stand to oppose the Republican amendment to this great piece of legislation, because if you adopt their amendment, you're doing less than what we would like to do in the present legislation that is on the floor today. Mr. Speaker, when it comes down to training funds, this bill doubles the current training funding cap from $220 million to $440 million and increases it to $660 million by 2010. This is music to the ears of so many States and especially individuals that have lost their jobs because of trade, because of globalization. So we are here on the floor, especially with me being a member of the Subcommittee on Trade, we are here on the floor to promote not only training, but also assisting those States that are led by Democrat and Republican Governors. So I share with all of my colleagues here on the floor: Do what is right. To say that we can cut things in half or keep things at status quo and still do a good job by allowing individuals that have lost their jobs the assistance that they need as relates to training, as it relates to health care, is just not living in the real world.”