December 2001/January 2002  VOL. 13, NO. 6

InsideWashington

by Janet Kopenhaver AWPA Director of Government Affairs

TRADE

� Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)
Moving Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), formerly known as "fast track," through the Senate - once expected to be a breeze - now is becoming more complicated. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, and seven other GOP committee members announced their opposition to the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) bill (S 1209), a measure Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), Senate Majority Leader, said must be tied to the fast track bill for final passage. The Republicans said that while they agree the government should help provide job assistance to displaced workers who were directly impacted by trade deals, the pending Senate bill is too broad and too costly.

Other Republican concerns with the TAA bill include a provision to subsidize health insurance through the federal COBRA program, which requires employers to allow laid-off workers to continue with company health insurance for a limited time.

ENVIRONMENT/REGULATIONS
� Ergonomics - Again
After several months of delay, the Labor Department is expected to announce its long-awaited position on ergonomics by April 15, 2002. Already, the AFL-CIO is gearing up for battle over what is expected to be a call for "voluntary action" - not a guidance or regulation to force industry to take steps to prevent injuries, like repetitive motion and carpal tunnel disorder. Entering the fray is Sen. John Breaux (D-LA) who is planning to introduce a bill to require the department to issue a "regulation" within two years.

 
 

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