NAFTA TITLE V
NAFTA TRANSITIONAL ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
AND OTHER PROVISIONS
SEC. 501. Short Title.
SEC. 502. Establishment of NAFTA Transitional Adjustment
Assistance Program
SEC. 503. Conforming Amendments.
SEC. 504. Authorization of Appropriations.
SEC. 505. Termination of Transition Program.
SEC. 506. Effective Date.
SEC. 507. Treatment of Self-Employment Assistance Programs.
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the "NAFTA Worker Security Act".
SEC. 502. ESTABLISHMENT OF NAFTA TRANSITIONAL ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
Chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2271 et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following new subchapter:
"SUBCHAPTER D--NAFTA TRANSITIONAL ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM"
NOTE: See revisions to the Trade Act
SEC. 503. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
NOTE: See revisions to the Trade Act
SEC. 504. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
NOTE: See revisions to the Trade Act
SEC. 505. TERMINATION OF TRANSITION PROGRAM.
Subsection (c) of section 285 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2271 preceding note) is amended--
(1) by striking "NO" and inserting "(1) Except as provided
in paragraph (2), no"; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
"(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), no
assistance, vouchers, allowances, or other payments may be
provided under subchapter D of chapter 2 after the day that is
the earlier of--
(I) September 30, 1998, or
(ii) the date on which legislation, establishing
a program providing dislocated workers with
comprehensive assistance substantially similar to the
assistance provided by such subchapter D, becomes
effective.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if, on or before
the day described in subparagraph (A), a worker--
(i) is certified as eligible to apply for
assistance, under subchapter D of chapter 2; and
(ii) is otherwise eligible to receive assistance
in accordance with section 250,
such worker shall continue to be eligible to receive such
assistance for any week for which the worker meets the
eligibility requirements of such section."
SEC. 506. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) In General.--The amendments made by sections 501, 502,
503, 504, and 505 shall take effect on the date the Agreement
enters into force with respect to the United States.
(b) Covered Workers.--
(1) General Rule.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no
worker shall be certified as eligible to receive assistance under
subchapter D of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974
(as added by this subtitle) whose last total or partial
separation from a firm (or appropriate subdivision of a firm)
occurred before such date of entry into force.
(2) Reach Back.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), any worker--
(A) whose last total or partial separation from a firm
(or appropriate subdivision of a firm) occurs--
(i) after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and
(ii) before such date of entry into force, and
(B) who would otherwise be eligible to receive
assistance under subchapter D of chapter 2 of title II of
the Trade Act of 1974,
shall be eligible to receive such assistance in the same manner
as if such separation occurred on or after such date of entry
into force.
SEC. 507. TREATMENT OF SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
(a) General Rule.--Section 3306 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
NOTE: Not DOL related
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.--
NOTE: Amends the Internal Revenue Code and Social Security
Act--not DOL related
(c) STATE REPORTS.--Any State operating a self-employment
program authorized by the Secretary of Labor under this section
shall report annually to the Secretary on the number of
individuals who participate in the self-employment assistance
program, the number of individuals who are able to develop and
sustain businesses, the operating costs of the program, compliance with program requirements, and any other relevant
aspects of program operations requested by the Secretary.
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.--Not later than 4 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall
submit a report to the Congress with respect to the operation of
the program authorized under this section. Such report shall be
based on the reports received from the States pursuant to
subsection (c) and include such other information as the
Secretary of Labor determines is appropriate.
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE; SUNSET.--
(1) Effective date.--The provisions of this section and the
amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of
the enactment of this Act.
(2) Sunset.--The authority provided by this section, and
the amendments made by this section,shall terminate 5 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act.