House looks to move trade agenda in first week back

The GSP bill could become the vehicle in the Senate for TAA. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced last month they had a deal to move TAA and the FTAs through the Senate.

Enough Senate Republicans support expanded TAA that it should pass there separately, but a real test will be whether it can pass unamended in the House.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) helped craft a compromise extension of the expanded program, but there is a cost associated with extending it. Some conservatives can be expected to try to block it on fiscal grounds.

At this point TAA continues to dole out benefits to some workers who can show they lost their jobs due to trade, but other workers, such as those in the service sector, are unable to obtain benefits.