"The Mead Corporation's decision to idle temporarily the Number 11 machine at its Rumford mill and to lay off 45 workers deals a terrible blow to the workers and their families, and the community in which they live. Even as our economy shows signs of rebounding, decisions such as the one made today by Mead demonstrate that many Americans are not yet benefitting from this turnaround.
We will work closely with the affected employees, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, and Maine state officials to make the case for federal assistance through programs such as Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to provide the workers with access to training, career services, and income assistance."