Orrin Hatch: “I rise in support of my amendment No. 642. It is fairly simple. It tightens the nexus between TAA benefits and actual…”

“I rise in support of my amendment No. 642. It is fairly simple. It tightens the nexus between TAA benefits and actual jobs lost because of trade by requiring a stricter standard to receive TAA benefits. The expanded TAA benefit offered by my friends across the aisle continues the ``contributed importantly'' standard that says if trade is a cause which is important, but not necessarily more important than any other cause of the job loss, TAA benefits can be provided. That is not a tight nexus. As a result, many workers are eligible for TAA benefits even if their job loss was not caused by trade. My amendment requires that trade would have to be a ``substantial cause'' of job loss for TAA benefits to be available. This standard was established by President Reagan when he constrained spending on TAA. By returning to the stricter TAA standard, this amendment puts reasonable constraints on the program to stop it from expanding into another out-of-control spending program. I ask my colleagues to help the American taxpayers and constrain TAA spending by supporting this amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.”