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Brown Takes Southwest
Ohio Values to Washington
Fights for Workers and to Save Jobs from Going Overseas
Photo: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown speaks with workers at Omega
Automation in Dayton
Sen. Brown is fighting for Ohio workers by working to enforce existing
trade agreements and ensure laid-off workers receive the retraining
they need.
Brown fought to extend the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program, a
critical life-line for workers who lose their jobs due to foreign
trade. TAA provides training and re-employment services designed to
help these workers develop skills to find new jobs.
As one of the last acts before the 111th Congress adjourned in
December, Brown secured a six-week extension of TAA as well as the
Health Care Tax Credit (HCTC), which helps trade-affected workers
afford private health insurance. Brown announced in February that more
than 80 workers at DRS Mobile Environmental Systems Company in Hamilton
County were eligible to apply for this assistance.
In December, Brown fought to extend the programs for 18 months, but the
Senate only cleared a six-week extension. In February, Brown led a
group of 14 senators to urge House leadership to pass an extension.
Each of Brown’s attempts to pass an extension was blocked by
Republicans.
According to the Department of Labor, an estimated 32,389 Ohio workers
were certified for TAA assistance since May 2009, second only to
Michigan. Letting the program expire shuts out workers from the
training they need if they lose their jobs to countries other than
those with which we have free trade agreements.
Brown is also working to prevent lost jobs overseas by ensuring that
our free trade agreements are enforced and that American manufacturers
can compete on an even playing field in the global economy.
Unfair trade subsidies mean lost jobs, stagnant wages, and communities
struggling without tax revenue to support basic services and schools.
Brown has repeatedly urged the Obama Administration to take a stand
against unfair and illegal trade practices that undermine American
manufacturers. Most recently, Brown testified before the International
Trade Commission on behalf of Ohio aluminum extrusion workers faced
with a flood of cheap Chinese imports. In Southwest Ohio, affected
companies include Aluminum Extruded Shapes, Inc. in Cincinnati and
Magnode Corp. in Trenton.
Read this article and more, with links, at Sen. Brown’s website
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