EXPLANATION OF H.R. 3008

TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE REAUTHORIZATION

Present law

Section 245 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2317), authorizes appropriations to the Department of Labor for the period beginning October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2001, of such sums as may be necessary to administer the general TAA and NAFTA-related TAA programs of Chapter 2 of Title II of that Act. Section 250(d)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 caps the funding for NAFTA training programs for the period at $30,000,000.

Section 256 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2346(b)), authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for the period beginning October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2001, of such sums as may be necessary to administer the TAA for firms program (Chapter 3 of Title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended).

Explanation of the provision

The provision reauthorizes the trade adjustment assistance programs by striking the termination date in the several statutory provisions of September 30, 2001, and replacing it with the new termination date of September 30, 2003. No other change to the programs is made.

Effective Date

The provision would take effect on October 1, 2001.