Dol Awards $53.1 Million For Workers Displaced By Foreign Trade
Grants totaling $53.1 million to assist workers who have lost their jobs for trade-related reasons have been released by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Fiscal year 2003 trade adjustment assistance training funds are capped at $220 million. As a result, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration surveyed each state to determine the additional funding needed for individuals already enrolled in TAA or NAFTA/TAA training as of March 31, 2003.
Also considered were those approved for training who were expected to enroll by September 30, 2003. Based on the information supplied, the remaining 2003 funds were awarded to states proportionally.
Today’s funds are for training only; states will receive an additional 15 percent of their allotment for administrative purposes.
The Trade Act of 2002 provides special benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program to workers adversely affected by increased imports from other countries. The North American Free Trade Agreement–Transitional Adjustment Assistance (NAFTA-TAA) program provides trade adjustment assistance for workers who suffer a negative impact because of increased imports from Mexico or Canada or because their employer shifted production to one of these countries.