Today we will start with what is called the "Climate Change Adjustment Allowance."

On p. 1157 of the bill, it says that a worker who loses his/her job directly as a result of the changes made by the Cap and Trade bill will be eligible for a special unemployment benefit in this plan for a period of up to 156 weeks.

Yes, 156 weeks. That is three years.

"The climate change adjustment allowance payable to an adversely affected worker for a week of unemployment shall be an amount equal to 70 percent of the average weekly wage of the worker," the bill states, with the amount capped at the "average weekly wage for all workers in the State."

And there are more benefits that would be offered to workers who lose their jobs as a result of the climate change bill.

* The feds would "defray reasonable transportation and subsistence expenses" for a worker who has to travel much farther to job training classes that the worker's regular commute.

* The feds would pay the costs of on-the-job training at companies where dislocated workers were hired. Training will be "limited," but then the bill says that training cannot "exceed 156 weeks."

* The feds would pay up to $1,500 in "job search expenses" for dislocated workers

* The feds would pay a "relocation allowance" to a dislocated worker to help them move within the United States so that person can start a new job

* During the time that workers are participating in special cap and trade job training programs, the feds would pay 80% of that workers monthly premium to help them continue to get health insurance

So you can add that to your discussion agenda for the holiday weekend.

If you want to download the bill to look for yourself, then here is your link: http://bit.ly/nOeu2

Right click on it to save the file on your computer.

Next week, hearings begin before a Senate Committee, with a markup slated for the last week in July. Take a minute to read what's actually in the bill.