June 08, 2012

Manchin, Rockefeller, Brown, Mikulski, Cardin Work to Protect Benefits for RG Steel Employees & Retirees

Senators Sent Letters to Labor Secretary and IRS Commissioner to Make Sure Eligible Employees and Retirees Get TAA and Health Care Tax Credit Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today announced that they sent letters to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Douglas H. Shulman asking them to make sure that eligible RG Steel employees and retirees receive benefits to help them seek new employment and access affordable health coverage.

RG Steel filed for bankruptcy on May 31, which has serious consequences for the company’s 4,000 employees and their families, as well as retirees.  The Senators have been working to make sure that eligible employees and retirees receive vital support, including Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Health Care Tax Credit (HCTC) benefits.  These programs are lifelines to employees who are laid off and are training for new employment, as well as for retirees who may be eligible for HCTC. 

The TAA program ensures that workers who lose their jobs as a result of outsourcing to foreign countries are provided with training and financial assistance to transition to new employment.  The HCTC, which is part of the TAA program, makes health insurance coverage more affordable for workers who lose their jobs due to trade and for retirees who receive pension payments through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Click here to view the letter the Senators sent to Secretary Solis.

Click here to view the letter the Senators sent to Commissioner Shulman.

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