House Passes WARN/COBRA Expansion

We are a little late on this one, but on October 31st, the House passed (by a non-veto proof majority) the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act (H.R. 3920).  The bill was approved by a vote of 264-157 vote and would amend the WARN Act (see two posts below) to require 90 days of notice to workers (instead of the current 60 days) of impending job losses due to plant closings and mass layoffs as the result of globalization.

The bill would also extend benefits to service industry and public-sector employees who lose their jobs due to trade or offshoring of jobs.  Additionally, the bill would give impacted employees more time to receive continuation of their health care coverage under COBRA.

The bill seeks to improve upon the the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Reform Act of 2002.  The TAA program assists individuals who have become unemployed as a result of increased imports or shifts in production to foreign countries.  TAA-certified workers may access a menu of services that include training, income support, relocation allowances, job search allowances, and a health insurance coverage tax credit.

I am not sure of the exact reasons, but the President has expressed objections to the 2007 bill.  It is unclear when, or if, the Senate will take up the measure.

PS