Happy New Year to all!
Congress is moving forward on the Jobs Bill and Workforce
Investment Act Reauthorization
As we get back to work, so does Congress. But right before the
break, in the middle of the heated health care debate, a couple of
interesting happenings on jobs and training did occur. In early
December, the Republicans on the House Education and Labor
Committees put forth their version of the Workforce Investment Act
reauthorization. Calling it the Workforce Improvement Act, it is
listed as HR 4271. The bill is highlighted by several themes:
Increasing efficiency, focusing on results.
Eliminating barriers to effective programs and services.
Fostering regional economic development.
Strengthening programs for targeted populations.
You can read the full highlights of the bill on the Republican's ED
Labor Committee site:
http://republicans.edlabor.house.gov/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1396&IID=14
There is a strong feeling among congressional staff that WIA will
be "done" in 2010. We will keep you posted here.
Over in the full House, members passed the Jobs for Main Street Act
of 2010. The $154 Billion package includes many provisions to
address unemployment and job creation. The funding for this bill
is also becoming controversial. The House is planning on using the
remaining funding from the Toxic Assets Relief Program (TARP) to
fund this bill. The vote was close, passing 217-212 just before
the holiday. No House Republicans and 38 Democrats voted against
the bill.
Here is summary from the House Appropriations Committee on this
bill:
http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/Jobs_for_Main_Street_Act_of_2010_Summary.pdf
This bill now needs to move to the Senate over the next couple of
months to see if it will pass. Stay tuned for more information as
it becomes available.
And, just in time for this posting, President Obama on January 6th
announced $250 Million for teacher STEM training. Here is a link
back to the Washington Post article outlining this
initiative:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/05/AR2010010503981.html