Jack Reed: “My amendment, if I was allowed to proceed, would have dealt with the issue of secondary workers, providing them the same…”

“My amendment, if I was allowed to proceed, would have dealt with the issue of secondary workers, providing them the same types of protections which are available to workers in facilities that are directly affected by trade actions. This is an amendment that is cosponsored by Senator Bingaman, the Presiding Officer, Senator Corzine, and others. It comes directly from the original legislation that Senator Bingaman submitted, S. 1209, which recognizes that the effects of trade are not discretely limited to individual companies but also affect those vendors, suppliers, and workers who support that company. I think that is a principle that is beyond debate. When a factory closes, it is not just the factory workers, it is the truckers, it is the tradesmen who work in that facility who very often see their livelihoods completely exhausted by the effects of trade. As a result, this legislation was originally proposed by Senator Bingaman. It was part of the proposal Senator Daschle made. It was part of the discussions. Unfortunately, regretfully, and I think unfairly, it was deleted from the provision which is in the underlying bill. As a result, I would have offered either the substitute amendment or, indeed, would offer the amendment now which would have included the effects of the trade adjustment benefits for those secondary workers. Again, I think it makes quite a bit of sense.…”