S 1449119th CongressIn Committee

Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2025

Introduced: Apr 10, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S. 1449) would renew and extend the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program for workers, firms, and farmers, updating its authorization periods and transitional rules. The bill extends key program authorities and funding periods into the early 2030s (through December 31, 2031 for workers and through 2032 for firms and farmers, with training funds stretching to 2032). It also creates transitional provisions to align activities with the post-2021 framework, clarifying how certifications and benefits operate for petitions filed around July 2021 and after enactment. In short, the bill aims to keep TAA’s aid—job-training, wage and income support, and business assistance—available for longer and with specific rules for cases that spanned the 2021 legislative changes.

Key Points

1Extends program life:
2- Workers: termination date extended to December 31, 2031.
3- Firms: authorization window extended to 2032.
4- Farmers: authorization window extended to 2032.
5- Training funds: extended from the prior window to 2026-2032.
6Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (R-TAA) and related authorizations:
7- R-TAA and other worker/friend program authorities are extended to 2031-2032 as applicable.
8Transitional rules for petitions filed after July 1, 2021:
9- For new worker certifications, if a determination hasn’t yet been made as of enactment, the Secretary of Labor would use the post-2021 standards to decide.
10- If a prior denial of certification existed under the old law, the Secretary would reconsider and could certify if the group meets the post-2021 standards.
11- If a petition for worker adjustment was filed after July 1, 2021 but before enactment, the worker becomes eligible to apply for benefits under the updated framework starting 90 days after enactment.
12- For petitions filed after July 1, 2021, workers certified as eligible would, generally, receive benefits under Chapter 2 provisions as amended on or after enactment.
13Transitional rules for firms:
14- If a firm petition was not decided before enactment, the Secretary of Commerce uses the updated standards to decide.
15- If a prior denial occurred, the Secretary can reconsider and certify if the firm meets post-2021 standards.
16- A new 90-day grace period after enactment allows certain firms that didn’t file between July 1, 2021 and enactment to file and be considered under the updated rules, as if they had filed within that window.
17References and alignment:
18- The bill treats amendments and repeals as applying to the Trade Act of 1974 provisions in effect on June 30, 2021, with adjustments made by this Act.
19General purpose:
20- To ensure continued federal support for workers dislocated by trade, and for impacted firms and farmers, via training, wage subsidies, and business assistance, under updated rules and extended funding.

Impact Areas

Primary groups/areas affected:- Workers who lose or may lose jobs due to foreign competition and trade-related factors. These workers would continue to receive unemployment- and training-related supports, and may access wage supplements or income support under TAA.Secondary groups/areas affected:- Firms and farmers that face adverse effects from trade and may seek adjustment assistance, consulting, and other supports to retool, restructure, or shift business strategies.- State and local workforce agencies and training providers who administer TAA programs and deliver retraining and placement services.Additional impacts:- Budget and appropriations considerations due to extended program authorities and new transitional rules.- Administrative complexities as agencies implement the updated eligibility criteria and reconsiderations for petitions filed around mid-2021.- More opportunities for workers and firms to receive federal support during periods of economic adjustment caused by global trade.The text provided is partial and applies to the reauthorization framework, transitional provisions for petitions filed around July 2021, and the extension of program authorities through 2031-2032 for different TAA components. If enacted, final detail would come from the complete bill and any amendments adopted during consideration.

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