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ETA News Release: [05/29/2003]
Contact Name: Elissa Pruett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676

New Labor Grant to Maine Will Help Trade-Impacted Workers Pay for Health Insurance

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces over $9.3 Million Grant to Help Workers Pay Health Insurance Premiums

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a National Emergency Grant of over $9.3 million that will pay 65 percent of qualified health insurance premiums for an estimated 2,800 Maine workers eligible for assistance under the Trade Adjustment Reform Act of 2002 and certain individuals who receive pension benefit payments from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).

President Bush signed the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) program into law last year as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act. The Department of Labor grant allows the state of Maine to immediately fund the costs of the program, ensuring that eligible Maine workers and their families have the help they need to pay their health insurance premiums. The grant provides health insurance premium assistance to recipients until the advance tax credit is operating in August 2003. The HCTC program is under the jurisdiction of the Internal Revenue Service.

“The President and I are committed to helping displaced workers access the help they need to support and care for their families. We realize that nothing is more important to the people of Maine than the health of their loved ones. That is why we made it a priority to work with Senator Snowe and Senator Collins to ensure these funds are directed to Maine as soon as possible,” Chao said. “We hope they will be deployed as quickly as possible to help these Maine workers pay their health insurance premiums and bring them some peace of mind.”

Under a special pilot program with the state of Maine, the Internal Revenue Service will ensure Maine residents eligible for the pilot program receive a HCTC notification letter in the mail and an HCTC Program Kit. The Program Kit provides all the necessary information to determine eligibility and the form to register.

“Helping American workers who have lost their jobs remains a top priority for this Administration,” said Chao.

For more information on a particular state and the health insurance programs that qualify, please visit the HCTC website at www.irs.gov and enter IRS Keyword: HCTC. For more information on the Department of Labor’s assistance for trade impacted workers please go to www.dol.gov.

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