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Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAAIA) Improvement Act Oct. 27, which if passed would extend benefits to displaced service workers, including software programmers and other high-tech workers. In November the bill, HR 4156, was referred to a House subcommittee for review. Smith’s bill has 75 original co-sponsors, including U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), the Ranking Member on the House Ways and Means Committee, which has oversight of American trade policy.

Created in 1962 to assist U.S. manufacturing and agricultural workers who lost their jobs due to reduced tariffs and global trade expansion, the TAA provides benefits for workers whose jobs have been offshored to countries with free trade agreements with the U.S.