HR 4649 IH
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4649
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to establish a transitional adjustment
assistance program for workers adversely affected by reason of the extension of
nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products
of the People's Republic of China.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 13, 2000
Ms. KAPTUR (for herself, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. HALL of Ohio,
Mr. NORWOOD, and Mr. KUCINICH) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to establish a transitional adjustment
assistance program for workers adversely affected by reason of the extension of
nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products
of the People's Republic of China.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS FOR CHINA TRANSITIONAL ADJUSTMENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL- 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:
`Subchapter E--Normal Trade Relations For China Transitional Adjustment
Assistance Program
`SEC. 250A. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM.
`(a) GROUP ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS-
`(1) CRITERIA- A group of workers (including workers in any agricultural
firm or subdivision of an agricultural firm) shall be certified as eligible
to apply for adjustment assistance under this subchapter pursuant to a
petition filed under subsection (b) if the Secretary determines that a
significant number or proportion of the workers in such workers' firm or an
appropriate subdivision of the firm have become totally or partially
separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated, and
either--
`(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm or subdivision
have decreased absolutely,
`(ii) imports from the People's Republic of China of articles like
or directly competitive with articles produced by such firm or
subdivision have increased by reason of the extension of
nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the
products of China, and
`(iii) the increase in imports under clause (ii) contributed
importantly to such workers' separation or threat of separation and to
the decline in the sales or production of such firm or subdivision;
or
`(B) that there has been a shift in production by such workers' firm
or subdivision to the People's Republic of China of articles like or
directly competitive with articles which are produced by the firm or
subdivision by reason of the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment
(normal trade relations treatment) to the products of China.
`(2) DEFINITION OF CONTRIBUTED IMPORTANTLY- The term `contributed
importantly', as used in paragraph (1)(A)(iii), means a cause which is
important but not necessarily more important than any other cause.
`(3) REGULATIONS- The Secretary shall issue regulations relating to the
application of the criteria described in paragraph (1) in making preliminary
findings under subsection (b) and determinations under subsection (c).
`(b) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS- The provisions of subsections (b) through
(e) of section 250 shall apply to the administration of the program under this
subchapter in the same manner and to the same extent as such provisions apply
to the administration of the program under subchapter D.'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of contents of the Trade Act of 1974
(19 U.S.C. 2101) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
250 the following:
`SUBCHAPTER E--NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS FOR CHINA TRANSITIONAL ADJUSTMENT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
`Sec. 250A. Establishment of transitional program.'.
END