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Donate NowH.R.910 - American Competitiveness and Adjustment Act
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to make certain modifications to the trade adjustment assistance program.

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HR 910 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to make certain modifications to the trade adjustment assistance program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
February 8, 2007
Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to make certain modifications to the trade adjustment assistance program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `American Competitiveness and Adjustment Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE I--TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
Sec. 101. Calculation of separation tolled during litigation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 102. Revision of eligibility criteria.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 103. Health care tax credit.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 104. Alternative trade adjustment assistance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 105. Training funds.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 106. Effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE II--DATA COLLECTION
Sec. 201. Data collection; study; information to workers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 202. Determinations by the Secretary of Labor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 203. Effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE III--INDUSTRY-WIDE CERTIFICATIONS
Sec. 301. Notification.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 302. Other methods of requesting investigation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 303. Industry-Wide determination.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 304. Coordination with other trade provisions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 305. Regulations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 306. Effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE IV--OFFICE OF TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
Sec. 401. Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE V--TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS
Sec. 501. Clarification of marketing year and other provisions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 502. Eligibility.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 503. Petition process.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 504. Amount of cash benefits.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 505. Effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE VI--TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FIRMS
Sec. 601. Modification of eligibility.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE VII--TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE WORKERS AND FIRMS
Sec. 701. Extension of trade adjustment assistance to services sector.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 702. Trade adjustment assistance for firms and industries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 703. Monitoring and reporting.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 704. Effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE VIII--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
Sec. 801. Authorization of appropriations for trade adjustment assistance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE I--TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
SEC. 101. CALCULATION OF SEPARATION TOLLED DURING LITIGATION.
Section 233 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`(h) Special Rule for Calculating Separation- Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any period during which a judicial or administrative appeal is pending with respect to the denial by the Secretary of a petition under section 223 shall not be counted for purposes of calculating the period of separation under subsection (a)(2), and an adversely affected worker that would otherwise be entitled to a trade readjustment allowance shall not be denied such allowance because of such appeal.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 102. REVISION OF ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
(a) Downstream Workers- Section 222(c)(3) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 (U.S.C. 2272(c)(3)) is amended by striking `, if the certification of eligibility' and all that follows through the end and inserting a period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(b) Shifts in Production- Section 222(a)(2)(B) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 (U.S.C. 2272(a)(2)(B)) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(B) there has been a shift in production by such workers' firm or subdivision to a foreign country of articles like or directly competitive with articles which are produced by such firm or subdivision.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 103. HEALTH CARE TAX CREDIT.
(a) Removal of Training Requirement- Section 35(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Act of 1986 (
(b) Presumptive Eligibility for Petitioners for Trade Adjustment Assistance-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(1) IN GENERAL- Section 35(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(5) PRESUMPTIVE STATUS AS A TAA RECIPIENT- The term `eligible individual' shall include any individual who is covered by a petition filed with the Secretary of Labor under section 221 of the Trade Act of 1974. This paragraph shall apply to any individual only with respect to months which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(A) end after the date that such petition is so filed, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(B) begin before the earlier of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(i) the 90th day after the date of filing of such petition, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(ii) the date on which the Secretary of Labor makes a final determination with respect to such petition.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(A) Paragraph (1) of section 7527(d) of such Code is amended by striking `or an eligible alternative TAA recipient (as defined in section 35(c)(3))' and inserting `, an eligible alternative TAA recipient (as defined in section 35(c)(3)), or an individual who is an eligible individual by reason of section 35(c)(5)'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(B) Section 173(f)(4) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking `and' at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting `, and' ; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C), the following new subparagraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(D) an individual who is an eligible individual by reason of section 35(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(c) Clarification of 3-Month Creditable Coverage Requirement-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(1) IN GENERAL- Clause (i) of section 35(e)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting `(prior to the employment separation necessary to attain the status of an eligible individual)' after `9801(c)'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 173(f)(2)(B)(ii)(I) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (
(d) Increase in Tax Credit- Section 35(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking `65 percent' and inserting `75 percent'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(e) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to months beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act in taxable years ending after that date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 104. ALTERNATIVE TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.
(a) Eligibility of All Workers; Lower Age Requirement- Section 246(a)(3) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`(3) ELIGIBILITY- A worker in a group that the Secretary has certified as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under section 223 may elect to receive benefits under the alternative trade adjustment assistance program if the worker--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(A) obtains reemployment not more than 26 weeks after the date of separation from the adversely affected employment;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(B) is at least 40 years of age;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(C) earns not more than $50,000 a year in wages from reemployment;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(D) is employed on a full-time basis as defined by State law in the State in which the worker is employed; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(E) does not return to the employment from which the worker was separated.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(b) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(1) Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 246(a)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(2) Section 246(b)(2) of that Act is amended by striking `subsection (a)(3)(B)' and inserting `subsection (a)(3)'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(3) Section 35(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking `246(a)(3)(B)' and inserting `246(a)(3)'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 105. TRAINING FUNDS.
(a) Funding for Training- Section 236(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking `Upon such approval' and all that follows to the end; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2)(A) Upon approval of a training program under paragraph (l), and subject to the limitations imposed by this section, an adversely affected worker covered by a certification issued under section 223 shall be eligible to have payment of the costs of that training, including any costs of an approved training program incurred by a worker before a certification was issued under section 223, made on behalf of the worker by the Secretary directly or through a voucher system.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(B) Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the American Competitiveness and Adjustment Act, the Secretary shall develop and submit to Congress for approval a formula that provides workers with an individual entitlement for training costs to be administered pursuant to sections 239 and 240. The formula shall take into account--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(i) the number of workers enrolled in trade adjustment assistance;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(ii) the duration of the assistance;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(iii) the anticipated training costs for workers; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(iv) any other factors the Secretary deems appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(C) Until such time as Congress approves the formula, the total amount of payments that may be made under subparagraph (A) for any fiscal year shall not exceed 50 percent of the amount of trade readjustment allowances paid to workers during that fiscal year.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(b) Modification of Enrollment Deadlines- Section 231(a)(5)(A)(ii) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(1) in subclause (I), by striking `16th week' and inserting `32nd week'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) in subclause (II), by striking `8th week' and inserting `16th week'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(c) Approved Training Programs- Section 236(a)(5) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(1) by striking `and' at the end of subparagraph (E);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(F) entrepreneurial training; and'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 106. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as provided in section 103(e), the amendments made by this title take effect on the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and apply to petitions filed or recertified on or after that effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE II--DATA COLLECTION
SEC. 201. DATA COLLECTION; STUDY; INFORMATION TO WORKERS.
(a) Data Collection; Evaluations- Subchapter C of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 is amended by inserting after section 249 the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`SEC. 250. DATA COLLECTION; EVALUATIONS; REPORTS.
`(a) Data Collection- The Secretary shall, pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, collect any data necessary to meet the requirements of this chapter.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(b) Performance Evaluations- The Secretary shall establish an effective performance measuring system to evaluate the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) PROGRAM PERFORMANCE- A comparison of the trade adjustment assistance program before and after the effective date of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 with respect to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(A) the number of workers certified and the number of workers actually participating in the trade adjustment assistance program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(B) the time for processing petitions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(C) the number of training waivers granted;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(D) the coordination of programs under this chapter with programs under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (
`(E) the effectiveness of individual training providers in providing appropriate information and training;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(F) the extent to which States have designed and implemented health care coverage options under title II of the Trade Act of 2002, including any difficulties States have encountered in carrying out the provisions of title II;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(G) how Federal, State, and local officials are implementing the trade adjustment assistance program to ensure that all eligible individuals receive benefits, including providing outreach, rapid response, and other activities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(H) any other data necessary to evaluate how individual States are implementing the requirements of this chapter.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) PROGRAM PARTICIPATION- The effectiveness of the program relating to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(A) the number of workers receiving benefits and the type of benefits being received both before and after the effective date of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(B) the number of workers enrolled in, and the duration of, training by major types of training both before and after the effective date of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(C) earnings history of workers that reflects wages before separation and wages in any job obtained after receiving benefits under this Act;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(D) reemployment rates and sectors in which dislocated workers have been employed;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(E) the cause of dislocation identified in each petition that resulted in a certification under this chapter; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(F) the number of petitions filed and workers certified in each congressional district of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(c) State Participation- The Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, through oversight and effective internal control measures the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) STATE PARTICIPATION- Participation by each State in the performance measurement system established under subsection (b) and shall provide incentives for States to supplement employment and wage data obtained through the use of unemployment insurance wage records.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) MONITORING- Monitoring by each State of internal control measures with respect to performance measurement data collected by each State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(3) RESPONSE- The quality and speed of the rapid response provided by each State under section 134(a)(2)(A) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (
`(d) Reports-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) REPORTS BY THE SECRETARY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(A) INITIAL REPORT- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the American Competitiveness and Adjustment Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(i) describes the performance measurement system established under subsection (b);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(ii) includes analysis of data collected through the system established under subsection (b); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(iii) provides recommendations for program improvements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(B) ANNUAL REPORT- Not later than 1 year after the date the report is submitted under subparagraph (A), and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and release to the public a report that includes the information collected under clause (ii) of subparagraph (A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) STATE REPORTS- Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, each State shall submit to the Secretary a report that details its participation in the programs established under this chapter, and that contains the data necessary to allow the Secretary to submit the report required under paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(3) PUBLICATION- The Secretary shall make available to each State, to Congress, and to the public, the data gathered and evaluated through the performance measurement system established under subsection (b).'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(b) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(1) COORDINATION- Section 281 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(2) TRADE MONITORING SYSTEM- Section 282 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(3) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for title II of the Trade Act of 1974 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 249 the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`Sec. 250. Data collection; evaluations; reports.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 202. DETERMINATIONS BY THE SECRETARY OF LABOR.
Section 223(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`(c) Publication of Determinations- Upon reaching a determination on a petition, the Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) promptly publish a summary of the determination in the Federal Register, together with the Secretary's reasons for making such determination; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) make the full text of the determination available to the public on the Internet website of the Department of Labor, with full-text searchability.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 203. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this title take effect on the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE III--INDUSTRY-WIDE CERTIFICATIONS
SEC. 301. NOTIFICATION.
Section 224 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`SEC. 224. NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING AFFIRMATIVE DETERMINATIONS AND SAFEGUARDS.
`(a) Notifications Regarding Chapter 1 Investigations and Determinations- Whenever the International Trade Commission (in this chapter referred to as the `Commission') makes a report under section 202(f) containing an affirmative finding regarding serious injury, or the threat thereof, to a domestic industry, the Commission shall immediately--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) notify the Secretary of Labor of that finding; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) in the case of a finding with respect to an agricultural commodity, as defined in section 291, notify the Secretary of Agriculture of that finding.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(b) Notification Regarding Bilateral Safeguards- The Commission shall immediately notify the Secretary of Labor and, in an investigation with respect to an agricultural commodity, the Secretary of Agriculture, whenever the Commission makes an affirmative determination pursuant to one of the following provisions:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) Section 421 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`(2) Section 312 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(3) Section 312 of the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(4) Section 312 of the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(5) Section 312 of the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(6) Section 312 of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(7) Section 312 of the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(8) Section 302(b) of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(9) Section 212 of the United States-Jordan Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(10) A comparable provision in any other legislation implementing a free trade agreement between the United States and one or more other countries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(c) Agricultural Safeguards- The Commissioner of Customs shall immediately notify the Secretary of Labor and, in the case of an agricultural commodity, the Secretary of Agriculture, whenever the Commissioner of Customs assesses additional duties on a product pursuant to one of the following provisions:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) Section 202 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(2) Section 202 of the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(3) Section 202 of the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(4) Section 201(c) of the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(5) Section 309 of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(6) Section 301(a) of the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act of 1988 (
`(7) Section 404 of the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(8) A comparable provision in any other legislation implementing a free trade agreement between the United States and one or more other countries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(d) Textile Safeguards- The President shall immediately notify the Secretary of Labor whenever the President makes a positive determination pursuant to one of the following provisions:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) Section 322 of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(2) Section 322 of the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(3) Section 322 of the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(4) Section 322 of the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(5) Section 322 of the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(6) Section 322 of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (
`(7) A comparable provision in any other legislation implementing a free trade agreement between the United States and one or more other countries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(e) Antidumping and Countervailing Duties- Whenever the Commission makes a final affirmative determination pursuant to section 705 or section 735 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (
SEC. 302. OTHER METHODS OF REQUESTING INVESTIGATION.
Section 221 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(1) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(c) Other Methods of Initiating a Petition- Upon the request of the President or the United States Trade Representative, or the resolution of either the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Finance of the Senate, the Secretary shall promptly initiate an investigation under this chapter to determine the eligibility for adjustment assistance of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) a group of workers (which may include workers from more than one facility or employer); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) all workers in an occupation as that occupation is defined in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classification System.';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting `or a request or resolution filed under subsection (c),' after `paragraph (1),'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(3) in subsection (a)(3), by inserting `, request, or resolution' after `petition' each place it appears.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 303. INDUSTRY-WIDE DETERMINATION.
Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`(e) Investigation Regarding Industry-Wide Certification- If the Secretary receives a request or a resolution under section 221(c) on behalf of workers in a domestic industry or occupation (described in section 221(c)(2)) or receives 3 or more petitions under section 221(a) within a 180-day period on behalf of groups of workers in a domestic industry or occupation, the Secretary shall make an industry-wide determination under subsection (a) of this section with respect to the domestic industry or occupation in which the workers are or were employed. If the Secretary does not make certification under the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall make a determination of eligibility under subsection (a) with respect to each group of workers in that domestic industry or occupation from which a petition was received.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 304. COORDINATION WITH OTHER TRADE PROVISIONS.
(a) Industry-Wide Certification Based on Global Safeguards-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(1) RECOMMENDATIONS BY ITC-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(A) Section 202(e)(2)(D) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(B) Section 203(a)(3)(D) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(2) ASSISTANCE FOR WORKERS- Section 203(a)(1)(A) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`(1)(A) After receiving a report under section 202(f) containing an affirmative finding regarding serious injury, or the threat thereof, to a domestic industry--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(i) the President shall take all appropriate and feasible action within his power; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(ii)(I) the Secretary of Labor shall certify as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under section 223 workers employed in the domestic industry defined by the Commission if such workers become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated, not earlier than 1 year before, or not later than 1 year after, the date on which the Commission made its report to the President under section 202(f); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(II) in the case of a finding with respect to an agricultural commodity as defined in section 291, the Secretary of Agriculture shall certify as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under section 293 agricultural commodity producers employed in the domestic production of the agricultural commodity that is the subject of the finding during the most recent marketing year.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(b) Industry-Wide Certification Based on Bilateral Safeguard Provisions or Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Orders-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(1) IN GENERAL- Subchapter A of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`SEC. 224A. INDUSTRY-WIDE CERTIFICATION WHEN BILATERAL SAFEGUARD PROVISIONS INVOKED OR ANTIDUMPING OR COUNTERVAILING DUTIES IMPOSED.
`(a) Mandatory Certification- Not later than 10 days after the date on which the Secretary of Labor receives a notification with respect to the imposition of a trade remedy, safeguard determination, or antidumping or countervailing duty determination under section 224 (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e), the Secretary shall certify as eligible for trade adjustment assistance under section 223(a) workers employed in the domestic production of the article that is the subject of the trade remedy, safeguard determination, or antidumping or countervailing duty determination, as the case may be, if such workers become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated, not more than 1 year before or not more than 1 year after the applicable date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(b) Applicable Date- In this section, the term `applicable date' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) the date on which the affirmative or positive determination or finding is made in the case of a notification under section 224 (a), (b), or (d);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) the date on which a final determination is made in the case of a notification under section 224(e); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(3) the date on which additional duties are assessed in the case of a notification under section 224(c).'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY PRODUCERS- Chapter 6 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`SEC. 294. INDUSTRY-WIDE CERTIFICATION FOR AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY PRODUCERS WHERE SAFEGUARD PROVISIONS INVOKED OR ANTIDUMPING OR COUNTERVAILING DUTIES IMPOSED.
`(a) In General- Not later than 10 days after the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture receives a notification with respect to the imposition of a trade remedy, safeguard determination, or antidumping or countervailing duty determination under section 224 (b), (c), or (e), the Secretary shall certify as eligible for trade adjustment assistance under section 293(a) agricultural commodity producers employed in the domestic production of the agricultural commodity that is the subject of the trade remedy, safeguard determination, or antidumping or countervailing duty determination, as the case may be, during the most recent marketing year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(b) Applicable Date- In this section, the term `applicable date' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) the date on which the affirmative or positive determination or finding is made in the case of a notification under section 224(b);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) the date on which a final determination is made in the case of a notification under section 224(e); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(3) the date on which additional duties are assessed in the case of a notification under section 224(c).'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendments- The table of contents for title II of the Trade Act of 1974 is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(1) by striking the item relating to section 224 and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`Sec. 224. Notifications regarding affirmative determinations and safeguards.';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 224 the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`Sec. 224A. Industry-wide certification based on bilateral safeguard provisions invoked or antidumping or countervailing duties imposed.';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(3) by striking the item relating to section 294 and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`Sec. 294. Industry-wide certification for agricultural commodity producers where safeguard provisions invoked or antidumping or countervailing duties imposed.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 305. REGULATIONS.
The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, and the International Trade Commission may promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the amendments made by this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 306. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this title take effect on the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and apply to petitions filed or recertified on or after that effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE IV--OFFICE OF TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
SEC. 401. OFFICE OF TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General- Chapter 3 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`SEC. 255A. OFFICE OF TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.
`(a) Establishment- Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the American Competitiveness and Adjustment Act, there shall be established in the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce an Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(b) Personnel- The Office shall be headed by a Director, and shall have such staff as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the Secretary of Commerce described in this chapter.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(c) Functions- The Office shall assist the Secretary of Commerce in carrying out the Secretary's responsibilities under this chapter.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(b) Conforming Amendment- The table of contents for the Trade Act of 1974 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 255 the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`Sec. 255A. Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE V--TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS
SEC. 501. CLARIFICATION OF MARKETING YEAR AND OTHER PROVISIONS.
(a) In General- Section 291(5) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(b) Fishermen- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (
SEC. 502. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) In General- Section 292(c)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(b) Net Farm Income- Section 296(a)(1)(C) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
SEC. 503. PETITION PROCESS.
Section 293 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`(d) Addition of Commodity Producers to Petition- At any time after a petition is filed under section 292 by a group of agricultural commodity producers, including after the Secretary issues a certification of eligibility under subsection (a) to a group of agricultural producers, any other producer of that agricultural commodity may elect to join the group of producers who filed the petition. Any producer who makes an election under the preceding sentence is eligible for assistance under this chapter to the same extent as the producers who filed the petition.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(e) Amendment of Petition- In any case in which the Secretary issues a certification of eligibility under subsection (a) pursuant to a petition filed under section 292, the group of producers of an agricultural commodity to whom the certification applies may thereafter amend the petition to modify the countries described in section 292(c)(2) or to modify the heading or subheading under which the agricultural commodity is classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 504. AMOUNT OF CASH BENEFITS.
Section 296(b)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
`(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to the provisions of section 298, an adversely affected agricultural commodity producer described in subsection (a) shall be entitled to adjustment assistance under this chapter as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(A) COMMODITIES RECEIVING ASSISTANCE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(i) IN GENERAL- If the agricultural commodity with respect to which the certification under this chapter applies is described in clause (ii), the adversely affected agricultural commodity producer shall be entitled to adjustment assistance under this chapter in an amount equal to the product of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(I) one-half of the difference between--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(aa) an amount equal to 80 percent of the average of the national average price of the agricultural commodity covered by the application described in subsection (a) for the 5 marketing years preceding the most recent marketing year, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(bb) the national average price of the agricultural commodity for the most recent marketing year, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(II) the amount of the agricultural commodity produced by the agricultural commodity producer in the most recent marketing year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(ii) AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES DESCRIBED- An agricultural commodity is described in this clause if it is--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(I) a covered commodity for purposes of section 1103 or 1104 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (
`(II) a loan commodity for purposes of section 1202 of that Act (
`(III) a product eligible for assistance under subtitle C, D, or E of title I of that Act, or the amendments made by any such subtitle.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(B) OTHER COMMODITIES- If the agricultural commodity with respect to which the certification under this chapter applies is not covered under subparagraph (A), the adversely affected agricultural commodity producer shall be entitled to adjustment assistance under this chapter in an amount equal to the product of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(i) the difference between--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(I) an amount equal to 80 percent of the average of the national average price of the agricultural commodity covered by the application described in subsection (a) for the 5 marketing years preceding the most recent marketing year, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(II) the national average price of the agricultural commodity for the most recent marketing year, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(ii) the amount of the agricultural commodity produced by the agricultural commodity producer in the most recent marketing year.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 505. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this title apply to petitions filed or recertified under chapter 6 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 on or after January 1, 2007.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE VI--TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FIRMS
SEC. 601. MODIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY.
Section 251(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(ii) by striking `sales or production, or both, of an article that accounted for not less than 25 percent of the total production or sales of the firm during the 12-month period preceding the most recent 12-month period for which data are available have decreased absolutely' and inserting `average monthly sales or production, or both, during the 60-month period preceding the most recent 12-month period for which data are available, of an article that accounted, during such 60-month period, for not less than 25 percent of the total production or sales of the firm, have decreased absolutely';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) in paragraph (1)(C)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(A) by striking `increases of'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(B) by striking `importantly'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(A) If imports of articles like or directly competitive with articles which are produced by the firm concerned exceed 65 percent of the market for such articles in the United States, the Secretary shall give substantially greater weight to the factors set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) than to that set forth in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1).'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE VII--TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICE WORKERS AND FIRMS
SEC. 701. EXTENSION OF TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE TO SERVICES SECTOR.
(a) Adjustment Assistance for Workers- Section 221(a)(1)(A) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(b) Group Eligibility Requirements- Section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(1) in subsection (a)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking `agricultural firm)' and inserting `agricultural firm, and workers in a service sector firm or subdivision of a service sector firm or public agency)';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting `or public agency' after `of the firm'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(C) in paragraph (2)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking `like or directly competitive with articles produced' and inserting `or services like or directly competitive with articles produced or services provided'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(ii) by amending subparagraph (B) (as amended by section 102(b) of this Act) to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(B)(i) there has been a shift, by such workers' firm, subdivision, or public agency to a foreign country, of production of articles, or in provision of services, like or directly competitive with articles which are produced, or services which are provided, by such firm, subdivision, or public agency; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(ii) such workers' firm, subdivision, or public agency has obtained or is likely to obtain such services from a foreign country.';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) in subsection (b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking `agricultural firm)' and inserting `agricultural firm, and workers in a service sector firm or subdivision of a service sector firm or public agency)';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting `or service' after `related to the article'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(C) in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting `or services' after `component parts';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(3) in subsection (c)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(A) in paragraph (3)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(i) by inserting `or services' after `value-added production processes';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(ii) by striking `or finishing' and inserting `, finishing, or testing';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(iii) by inserting `or services' after `for articles'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(iv) by inserting `(or subdivision)' after `such other firm'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(B) in paragraph (4)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(i) by striking `for articles' and inserting `, or services, used in the production of articles or in the provision of services'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(ii) by inserting `(or subdivision)' after `such other firm'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(d) Basis for Secretary's Determinations-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) INCREASED IMPORTS OF SERVICES- For purposes of subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii), the Secretary may determine that increased imports of like or directly competitive services exist if the workers' firm or subdivision or customers of the workers' firm or subdivision accounting for not less than 20 percent of the sales of the workers' firm or subdivision certify to the Secretary that they are obtaining such services from a foreign country.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) OBTAINING SERVICES ABROAD- For purposes of subsection (a)(2)(B)(ii), the Secretary may determine that the workers' firm, subdivision, or public agency has obtained or is likely to obtain like or directly competitive services from a foreign country based on a certification thereof from the workers' firm, subdivision, or public agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(3) AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY- The Secretary may obtain the certifications under paragraphs (1) and (2) through questionnaires or in such other manner as the Secretary determines is appropriate.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(c) Definitions- Section 247 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(1) in paragraph (1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(A) by inserting `or public agency' after `of a firm'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(B) by inserting `or public agency' after `or subdivision';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting `or public agency' after `the firm';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (17) as paragraphs (9) through (18), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(4) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(7) The term `public agency' means a department or agency of a State or local government or of the Federal Government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(8) The term `service sector firm' means an entity engaged in the business of providing services.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(d) Technical Amendment- Section 245(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
SEC. 702. TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FIRMS AND INDUSTRIES.
(a) Firms-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(1) ASSISTANCE- Section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(A) in subsection (a), by inserting `or service sector firm' after `(including any agricultural firm';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(B) in subsection (c)(1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting `or service sector firm' after `any agricultural firm';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting `or service' after `of an article'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking `articles like or directly competitive with articles which are produced' and inserting `articles or services like or directly competitive with articles or services which are produced or provided'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(C) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(e) Basis for Secretary Determination-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) INCREASED IMPORTS OF SERVICES- For purposes of subsection (c)(1)(C), the Secretary may determine that increases of imports of like or directly competitive services exist if customers accounting for not less than 20 percent of the sales of the workers' firm certify to the Secretary that they are obtaining such services from a foreign country.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY- The Secretary may obtain the certifications under paragraph (1) through questionnaires or in such other manner as the Secretary determines is appropriate. The Secretary may exercise the authority under section 249 in carrying out this subsection.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) DEFINITION- Section 261 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(A) by striking `For purposes of' and inserting `(a) Firm- For purposes of'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(B) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(b) Service Sector Firm- For purposes of this chapter, the term `service sector firm' means a firm engaged in the business of providing services.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(b) Industries- Section 265(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(c) Technical Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(1) IN GENERAL- Section 249 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(2) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for the Trade Act of 1974 is amended by striking `Subpena' in the item relating to section 249 and inserting `Subpoena'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 703. MONITORING AND REPORTING.
Section 282 of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(1) in the first sentence--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(A) by striking `The Secretary' and inserting `(a) Monitoring Programs- The Secretary';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(B) by inserting `and services' after `imports of articles';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(C) by inserting `and domestic provision of services' after `domestic production';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(D) by inserting `or providing services' after `producing articles'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(E) by inserting `, or provision of services,' after `changes in production'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink
(2) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(b) Collection of Data and Reports on Services Sector-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(1) SECRETARY OF LABOR- Not later than 3 months after the date of the enactment of the American Competitiveness and Adjustment Act, the Secretary of Labor shall implement a system to collect data on adversely affected service workers that includes the number of workers by State, industry, and cause of dislocation of each worker.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
`(2) SECRETARY OF COMMERCE- Not later than 6 months after such date of enactment, the Secretary of Commerce shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, conduct a study and report to the Congress on ways to improve the timeliness and coverage of data on trade in services, including methods to identify increased imports due to the relocation of United States firms to foreign countries, and increased imports due to United States firms obtaining services from firms in foreign countries.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
SEC. 704. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made by this title shall take effect on the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
TITLE VIII--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
SEC. 801. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.
(a) Workers- Section 245(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 (
(b) Firms- Section 256(b) of such Act (
(c) Farmers- Section 298(a) of such Act (
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U.S. Congress - Text of H.R.910 as Introduced in House American Competitiveness and Adjustment Act



