Norcross Applauds $1.7M DOL Grant for New Jersey Workers

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) applauded the $1,718,593 grant awarded to New Jersey by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The DOL announced today nearly $102.5 million in grants to 47 states and Puerto Rico through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program. This annual formula grant provides funding to states for Training and Other Activities (TaOA), including training services, job search and relocation allowances, and employment and case management services to serve eligible workers affected by foreign trade.

“Now, more than ever, America’s workers need our support,” said Congressman Norcross. “As the country faces both a public health crisis and an economic crisis, many trade-affected workers are out of work. This federal grant funding will support New Jersey workers by providing resources for training opportunities, income support and employee services to ensure they are equipped with the skills and tools they need to weather the current economic storm.”

The DOL distributed $266.4 million to states in FY 2020 TaOA funding in an initial allocation in April. This second distribution of $102.5 million together with the initial allocation represents 90 percent of the amount of TaOA funds available for the fiscal year. A final distribution of the remaining 10 percent will be made in September.

Trade-affected workers experience losses in income when their wages or hours are reduced or jobs lost when their employers send their work to firms overseas. The DOL uses the TAA Program to provide training, reemployment services and income support in the form of Trade Readjustment Assistance to eligible workers and Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance to eligible workers age 50 and older, to help them find new employment.

In an effort to bring manufacturing and high-quality jobs back to the U.S., Norcross authored a “Buy American” provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 that requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to increase the percentage of American parts that makes a Major Acquisition Program considered “American” from 50% to 75% by October 1, 2021, and phases in 5% per year until we reach 100% by October 1, 2026.

A full list of states receiving funding in this DOL distribution can be found here.

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