WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) applauded the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) decision to provide much-needed funding to assist Michigan workers whose jobs have been lost due to increased foreign trade.  DOL granted Michigan’s request for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) reserve funds, providing an additional $16,005,005 to assist 7,530 affected Michigan workers in the current fiscal year.

“I am pleased to see the Department of Labor come through with this funding, which will assist Michigan workers who are suffering hardship due to trade and economic globalization,” Stupak said.  “Trade Adjustment Assistance provides essential training and support for workers displaced by trade who want to go back to work.”

Stupak joined with the entire Michigan congressional delegation on May 7 in supporting a request the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth made for additional funding from the TAA reserve fund.  Trade agreements resulted in the loss of 279,200 manufacturing jobs in Michigan between 2000 and 2007.  Michigan had the second highest TAA eligibility of any state in 2007, but ranked seventh in funding for the program.  The additional federal funding will help the state continue to serve workers who have been laid off because of trade-related issues.

“I was pleased to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and with Governor Granholm to facilitate this funding,” Stupak said.

The TAA program assists workers whose jobs are lost due to increased imports or production in foreign countries.  TAA benefits include training in new occupational skills, extended unemployment insurance and tax credits for health insurance costs.  The new funding will be distributed to local Michigan Works Agencies on a need basis.