Senate Appropriations Committee Announces 302(b) Allocations

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee decided on FY 2008 302(b) allocations for the twelve appropriations bills.  It allows for a discretionary spending cap of $953 billion, with $149.2 billion allocated to the Labor/HHS/Education bill (which is the vehicle for funding WIA), about $8 billion more than the President's request of $140.9 billion and about $2 billion less than the House allocation of $151.1 billion. (These figures do not reflect scoring adjustments and advance appropriations, which would add a bit more to the totals).  By comparison, the FY 2007-enacted appropriation for Labor/HHS/Education was $144.5 billion.

House Appropriations Process Delayed Due To Dissatisfaction Over Earmarks

Progress on appropriations bills in the House was held up last week in the face of a dispute between Republicans and the House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) regarding the handling of earmarks in the bills.  Earmarks are appropriations requests by individual Members of Congress for projects or programs that benefit their local districts or states.  Mr. Obey had decided to put earmarks into the spending bills when they go to conference with the Senate.  However, House Republicans were adamantly opposed to this approach, and demanded the opportunity to debate on or amend the earmarks as the bills are being initially considered on the House floor.  Additionally, some Senate Republicans said they would block conferencing on spending bills.

In the end, Chairman Obey agreed to include earmarks in ten of the twelve appropriations bills when they go to the House floor (House work on the other two spending bills-the Homeland Security, and the Military Construction-VA bills-was nearly complete). 

Chairman Obey had planned a mark-up of the Labor/HHS/Education spending bill on Thursday, June 14th, but it was cancelled.  At this point, it is anticipated that the Labor/HHS/Education bill will go to the House floor sometime after the July recess.

The Senate Appropriations Committee schedule currently calls for the Labor/HHS/Education spending bills to be marked up at the subcommittee level on Tuesday, June 19th, and at the full Committee level on Thursday, June 21st.  The Senate plans to begin floor consideration of appropriations bills after the July recess.

Meanwhile, the President is still saying that he will veto appropriations bills where total discretionary spending would exceed his FY 2008 requests.  Observers say, however, that some spending bills may be sufficiently sensitive that it would be politically difficult for the President to veto them.

House Ways and Means Committee Examines TAA Reauthorization

On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee heard testimony by national experts from government, education, labor, and business in regard to Promoting U.S. Worker Competitiveness in a Global Economy.  See http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=detail&hearing=566.  

The hearing was focused on the operational effectiveness of the current Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which is due to expire on September 30, 2007.  TAA provides income support, job training, and other services to manufacturing workers who lose their jobs due to international trade.

The hearing also examined ideas for reforms, including proposals expanding TAA coverage to workers excluded from the program (service workers, for example), improving access to training, reducing the costs and complexity of the health coverage tax credit, and improving participation in the wage insurance program for older workers.

Individuals or organizations interested in submitting a statement for the record to the House Ways and Means Committee may do so until June 28, 2007.   See http://waysandmeans.house.gov/submissions.aspx

The Senate Finance Committee also recently held a hearing on TAA, focusing on its relevance in the 21st century economy and how TAA can be crafted to help today's workers affected by trade policy.  See http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing060607.htm

Reauthorization of TAA affects the workforce system, in that most recipients of TAA benefits access these services through the One-Stop system, along with counseling, vocational assessment, and other services provided by One-Stops.

Immigration Reform Will Return to Senate Floor

Following extensive negotiations, Senate leaders say they will again consider the immigration reform bill on the Senate floor after completion of an energy bill.  Discussions had centered on how many and which amendments would be brought up for consideration.  Currently, a list of about 20 amendments is expected to be debated on the floor.  The Senate hopes to pass an immigration bill prior to the Independence Day recess.

Job Corps Will Have A New Advisory Committee

Last week, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and Job Corps National Director Dr. Esther Johnson announced the appointment of 16 individuals to a new Advisory Committee on Job Corps.  The appointees come from employers, contractors, the military, educators, trainers, and various other communities that play important roles in advising the Job Corps on its future.  The Committee is being established to advance Job Corps' new vision for student achievement aimed at 21st century high-growth employment.  For more information, see http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20070572.htm