Max Baucus: “this bill addresses our country's most urgent priority--jobs. It helps American workers acquire the skills they need to…”

“this bill addresses our country's most urgent priority--jobs. It helps American workers acquire the skills they need to compete and win in the global economy. It gives American businesses better access to the materials they need to make world-class products, and that is just the beginning. It also opens the door to an ambitious trade agenda, an agenda that will increase U.S. exports, grow our economy, and create jobs. That agenda includes our pending free- trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. The first step is to renew the trade adjustment assistance. Trade adjustment assistance has been an essential part of U.S. trade policy for nearly 50 years. When we negotiate trade agreements, we create new economic opportunity and spur growth but also increase competition. TAA helps American workers and businesses meet that competition with job training, income support, health coverage, and technical assistance. Over the years we have reformed TAA to keep pace with the changing global economy. In 2009 we extended TAA to cover service industry workers and workers whose jobs shifted overseas to any country, and we increased funding for job training and health care. But the 2009 reforms expired. They expired last February. Congress has never approved one free-trade agreement, much less three, with TAA expired. This year must be no exception.…”