Trade Adjustment Assistance Modernization Act
Sponsored By: Representative Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
Introduced
Summary
Modernizes and expands Trade Adjustment Assistance to help workers, firms, colleges, communities, and agricultural producers recover from import or export-driven disruption while boosting health coverage support. It would widen who can seek help, add community grants and loans, update farmer benefits, and raise the Health Coverage Tax Credit to 80 percent of premiums.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Higher job-search and reemployment pay
If enacted, states would be required to pay 100% of approved job-search and relocation costs, up to $2,000 (indexed to CPI-U starting 30 days after enactment). If enacted, child and dependent care allowances could be up to $2,000 per minor per year (also CPI-U indexed). If enacted, the reemployment salary limit would rise to $70,000 and the total reemployment payment cap would rise to $20,000 (both indexed). If enacted, Trade Readjustment Allowances could be extended for training completion and up to 26 extra weeks during defined high-unemployment periods.
Bigger health premium tax credit
If enacted, the bill would raise the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) from 72.5% to 80% for coverage months after Dec. 31, 2021. If enacted, the government would start accelerated advance payments no later than 90 days after enactment so eligible households get monthly help sooner. If enacted, taxpayers could elect the transition rule and claim retroactive months on returns or amended returns within the allowed time.
New grants for trade-impacted communities
If enacted, the Commerce Department would start a new program to help communities hurt by trade and must set it up within 180 days. If enacted, the bill would authorize $1 billion per year for FY2027–FY2031 and allow up to $40 million per year for administration. If enacted, grants to a single community could not exceed $25 million total for FY2027–FY2031, and awards would prioritize distressed and underserved places and require geographic diversity. If enacted, the law would add a statutory definition of 'underserved community' to guide outreach and priorities.
Broader worker eligibility and petitions
If enacted, the bill would expand who can be covered by Trade Adjustment Assistance. Successor-in-interest workers, 'staffed' workers under a firm's control, teleworkers who report to the firm's listed location, and some public agency workers would be eligible. If enacted, petitions could be filed by one or more workers and by workforce intermediaries or labor-management groups. If enacted, petitions filed from Jan. 1, 2021 to enactment would be reconsidered, and the Secretary would have 90 days after enactment to adjust benefits for parity between cohorts.
Stronger training, outreach, and supports
If enacted, approved training providers and State agencies would have to track completion and place participants into living-wage jobs or show career progression. If enacted, the Secretary could reimburse out-of-pocket training costs paid after separation and before certification for approved training. If enacted, workers could waive training when recalled or if they are within two years of qualifying for old-age Social Security or a private pension. If enacted, the Department would be required to provide better outreach and notices in workers' languages and send a second notice before unemployment rights are exhausted.
Faster firm help and outreach
If enacted, firm petitions would move faster and a firm could be deemed certified if no decision is made in 55 days. If enacted, the bill would authorize $50 million per year for firm adjustment assistance for FY2027–FY2033 and cap per-firm assistance at $300,000 (indexed), with firms required to match assistance. If enacted, the Secretary must do sustained outreach to small, service-sector, and minority- and women-owned firms and update that plan annually and send it to Congress. If enacted, the Commerce Secretary would reconsider firm petitions filed from Jan. 1, 2021 to enactment and allow a short filing window for missed petitions.
More community college training funds
If enacted, the bill would fund community college and career training with $1.3 billion per year for each fiscal year 2027 through 2033. If enacted, up to 5% of those funds could pay administration, outreach, pilots, and evaluation. If enacted, some grants could be awarded to consortia and exceed $15 million, and at least 15% of each grant would have to pay for student supports like childcare, transportation, mental health, navigation help, and basic equipment. If enacted, awardees would need plans to serve underserved students and update them yearly to send to Congress.
Changes to farm trade assistance
If enacted, farm groups could qualify if export volume drops below their prior three-year average and that drop contributed to national price or receipts declines. If enacted, the qualifying window would expand from 90 days to 120 days and statutory monetary thresholds would rise to $12,000, $24,000, and $36,000 and be indexed annually starting 30 days after enactment. If enacted, authorized annual funding for farmers' TAA would be lowered to $50 million per year (from prior authority), and the Agriculture Secretary could not reserve more than 5% for technical help and evaluation.
Program admin, enforcement, and rules
If enacted, the Labor Secretary could reserve up to 1% of worker TAA funds each year for administration, technical help, pilots, and evaluation. If enacted, cooperating State agencies would have to use State merit-system employees for most TAA functions. If enacted, States could subpoena firms for worker names and addresses to make TAA determinations or do outreach and could enforce subpoenas under state law or federal court. If enacted, the bill would repeal the 2015 'snapback' provision.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Neal
MA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
VI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Mannion
NY • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov