TTA stands for Trade Adjustment Assistance, the program that is training displaced workers here in Michigan for new careers after their jobs have been outsourced. The vote is coming this week, and it's critical that we get the federal money to fund this operation, or it goes bye-bye.
From the Governor's office-
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and U.S. Representative Sander Levin today urged swift congressional action to reauthorize and expand the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program so Michigan can help workers who have been impacted by the unfair trade policies of the Bush Administration. Granholm and Levin made their remarks during a discussion with workers, community leaders, and Michigan Works! Agency officials.
"No state has been ravaged more than Michigan by unfair trade policies that have led to the outsourcing of jobs under the Bush Administration," Granholm said. "Strengthening and expanding the TAA program is a critical component in our plan to train workers and get them into 21st century jobs," Granholm said.
The federally funded TAA program is designed to provide support and training benefits to workers displaced from their jobs because of U.S. trade policies. Approximately 15,000 Michigan workers are currently enrolled in TAA training programs. While TAA is supposed to help any worker whose job has been impacted by trade policies, Michigan has routinely exhausted funding and has been forced to appeal for additional monies.
Not only does this bill expand the program for workers, it provides tax credits for business too.
The TAA bill would double the funding available for workers and create a new component called TAA for Communities, which would offer a new set of tax incentives designed to encourage redevelopment of areas that have faced reductions in manufacturing employment. Qualified areas would be designated as Manufacturing Redevelopment Zones and would be able to offer low-income housing credits and tax credits to new businesses.
This is will help our state tremendously. Give a call today, that number again is 202-225-3121.
Mention SCHIP while you are at it, too. It couldn't hurt.
(Cross-posted at Kos 'cuz I felt like it)
UPDATE: The Freep has a story about this here.