In the July
17th Weekly Workforce Brief we noted that the Labor/HHS/Education FY 2008 appropriations bill
moved forward another step last week when the House Appropriations
Committee approved a $607 billion bill on a voice vote. In addition, an amendment
offered by Representative Walsh (R-NY) and approved by voice vote
would rescind $335 million from current unexpended WIA funds.
Earlier
this week, The Workforce Alliance sent a letter expressing
strong opposition to the rescission provision to Chairman of the
House Appropriations Committee, Representative David Obey (D-WI) and
ranking members of the committee, Representatives James Walsh (R-NY)
and Jerry Lewis (R-CA).
Click here to review the Workforce Alliance letter
and here to view estimated effects of the $335 Million
Rescission on a state-by-state basis.
These
materials provide excellent facts to aid you in contacting your
Member of Congress to express your strong opposition to this
amendment. Please contact them as soon as possible!
In other
important news, the House Committee on Education and Labor,
Subcommittee on Higher
Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness will be holding its
second WIA Reauthorization hearing Thursday, July
26, 2007. The
hearing, entitled "The
Workforce Investment Act: Ideas to Improve the Workforce Development
System,"
is scheduled at 10:00 a.m. in room 2175 Rayburn
H.O.B. NAWB member Joe Carbone, President/CEO, The WorkPlace,
Bridgeport, CT and NAWB Board Member Charlie Ware, Chair,
Workforce Development Council, and Executive Vice
President, Wyoming Contractors Association, Cheyenne, WY will both
be providing independent testimony.
As always,
thank you for your continued advocacy efforts.
Best
regards,
Mark Schultz,
President/COO
