[Federal Register: June 9, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 109)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 27262-27263]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09jn09-10]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

20 CFR Parts 617, 618, 665, and 671

RIN 1205-AB32 and 1205-AB40


Withdrawal of Certain Proposed Rules for Trade Adjustment
Assistance

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the
Department of Labor (Department) announces the withdrawal of two
notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRMs) on the Trade Adjustment
Assistance for Workers (TAA) and Alternative Trade Adjustment
Assistance for Older Workers (ATAA) programs under the Trade Act of
1974, as amended (Trade Act). These proposed rules are withdrawn
because the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly
known as the Recovery Act, significantly amended the authorizing
legislation, superseding the two NPRMs.

DATES: The proposed rules identified in this document are withdrawn as
of June 9, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erica Cantor, Administrator, Office of
National Response, ETA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Room C-5311, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202)-693-
3560 (voice) (this is not a toll-free number); individuals with hearing
or speech impairments may access the telephone number via TTY by
calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The TAA program, under chapter 2 of title II
of the Trade Act, provides adjustment assistance (including training,
income

[[Page 27263]]

support, and job search and relocation allowances) for workers
adversely affected by international trade. The Trade Adjustment
Assistance Reform Act of 2002 (the Reform Act), Public Law 107-210,
reauthorized the TAA program, making significant amendments, including
the addition of a health care tax credit (helping workers pay for
qualifying health insurance) and ATAA, providing a wage supplement
option for older workers.
    The Department proceeded to implement the Reform Act through three
separate rulemakings. On August 25, 2006, the Department published an
NPRM covering TAA program benefits and administration (TAA NPRM) (71 FR
50760). On October 18, 2006, the Department published an NPRM covering
the new ATAA program (ATAA NPRM) (71 FR 61618). A planned third
rulemaking covering petitions for certification of eligibility to apply
for program benefits was not published (RIN 1205-AB44). Subsequently,
Congress passed the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007 (Pub. L.
110-5) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Pub. L. 110-161),
that prohibited the Department from finalizing or implementing these
proposed regulations.
    On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the Recovery Act,
Public Law 111-5, which includes the Trade and Globalization Adjustment
Assistance Act of 2009 (TGAAA). The TGAAA reauthorized and
substantially amended the TAA program, broadening program coverage,
expanding benefits, providing employment and case management services,
and replacing the ATAA program with the Retraining Adjustment
Assistance program.
    Because the substantial amendments made by the TGAAA rendered the
two 2006 NPRMs obsolete, they are withdrawn. The Department intends to
implement the TGAAA through rulemakings, and interested parties will be
invited to submit comments on those proposed rules when they publish.

    Signed: at Washington, DC this 29th day of May 2009.
Douglas F. Small,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration,
Labor.
[FR Doc. E9-13352 Filed 6-8-09; 8:45 am]

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