TAA for Automation Act of 2018

TAA for Automation Act of 2018

This bill amends the Trade Act of 1974 to modify eligibility requirements for trade adjustment assistance for workers whose jobs are affected by automation.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2982 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2982

To make trade adjustment assistance available to workers whose jobs are 
         eliminated through automation, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 24, 2018

Mr. Donnelly (for himself, Mr. Peters, and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced 
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 
                               on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To make trade adjustment assistance available to workers whose jobs are 
         eliminated through automation, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``TAA for Automation Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF WORKERS WHOSE JOBS ARE ELIMINATED THROUGH 
              AUTOMATION FOR TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 222(a)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 
U.S.C. 2272(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking ``; or'' and 
        inserting a semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking the period at the 
        end and inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(C)(i) there has been a shift in production of articles 
        or supply of services by such workers' firm from utilizing the 
        workers to methods or systems primarily utilizing automation; 
        and
            ``(ii) the shift described in clause (i) contributed 
        importantly to such workers' separation or threat of 
        separation.''.
    (b) Automation Defined.--Section 222(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 
(19 U.S.C. 2272(c)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as 
        paragraphs (2) through (5), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1), the following:
            ``(1) Automation.--The term `automation' means using 
        technology to produce a good or service previously produced by 
        human work.''.
    (c) Specification of Basis for Eligibility.--Section 222 of the 
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2272) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(f) Specification of Basis for Eligibility.--When the Secretary 
certifies a group of workers under this section as eligible to apply 
for adjustment assistance, the Secretary shall specify in the 
certification the basis for the eligibility of the group under 
subsection (a).''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--Subsections (b) and (c) of section 222 
of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2272) are amended by striking 
``subsection (a)'' each place it appears and inserting ``subparagraph 
(A) or (B) of subsection (a)(2)''.
    (e) Regulations; Recommendations.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall--
            (1) prescribe regulations to carry out the amendments made 
        by this section; and
            (2) submit to Congress a report that includes 
        recommendations for any changes to law necessary to carry out 
        the amendments made by this section, including any changes to 
        section 236(a)(2)(A) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
        2296(a)(2)(A)).
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall--
            (1) take effect on the date that is 2 years after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act; and
            (2) apply with respect to petitions for certifications of 
        eligibility filed under section 221 of the Trade Act of 1974 
        (19 U.S.C. 2271) on or after the date described in paragraph 
        (1).

SEC. 3. INDEPENDENT ADVISORY COMMISSION ON LABOR AUTOMATION.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Labor shall establish an 
independent advisory commission on labor automation to advise the 
Secretary on matters relating to jobs and occupations at risk of 
elimination as a result of automation.
    (b) Membership.--The Secretary shall ensure that membership on the 
advisory commission established under subsection (a) includes 
individuals with expertise in labor, individuals with expertise in 
technology, and individuals with expertise in business.
    (c) Annual Report.--Not less frequently than annually, the advisory 
commission established under subsection (a) shall submit to the 
Secretary and make available to the public a report describing jobs and 
occupations at risk of elimination as a result of automation that 
includes--
            (1) an identification of the States most affected by that 
        risk; and
            (2) recommendations for collaboration with State workforce 
        agencies to identify and address that risk.
    (d) Automation Defined.--In this section, the term ``automation'' 
means using technology to produce a good or service previously produced 
by human work.
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