 An email bulletin on national issues, exclusively for NAWB
members | |
Budget Resolution UpdateThe House Budget Committee reported out its version of the FY 2007 Budget Resolution on Wednesday evening of this week by a vote of 22-17. The resolution provides for a total budget of $2.8 trillion, and holds discretionary spending at the President’s proposed level of $873 billion, 3.6% above FY 2006, with large increases for defense and homeland security. A proposed amendment to the resolution that would have increased discretionary spending for domestic programs failed in Committee by a vote of 22-14. Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE) and other House GOP moderates, including Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT), hope to increase spending for domestic programs by about $7 billion, similar to the Senate resolution, when the resolution comes to the floor of the House. Rep. Castle has stated that he will not vote in favor of a budget resolution that results in “real cuts to critical federal investments in education, health care, housing, veterans’ services, social and community block grants.” House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) is planning to bring the budget resolution to the House floor for a vote late next week. Meanwhile, House GOP conservatives are pushing for a budget process reform bill that would include line-item veto authority, saying they will not support the budget resolution without it. NOTE: Workforce Boards should contact their House Representatives early next week to urge them to support Rep. Castle and Rep. Johnson’s attempts to lift the House budget caps. NAWB-State Chairs Association Joint Letter on WIA Reauthorization and FundingThe NAWB Board of Directors and the State Workforce Board Association sent a letter this week to Senate HELP Committee Chairman Enzi and Ranking Member Kennedy about the delay in passage of the WIA reauthorization bill in the Senate and the lack of sufficient funding for the workforce system. There is no indication of movement on the bill, however, Senator Enzi's committee staff, as recent as March 20th, continue to express his strong desire for passage of a final bill before Congress adjourns for the fall elections. Click here for the joint letter.
Perkins Act ReauthorizationAt the recent annual conference of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), legislative staff stated that they believe reauthorization of the Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act could happen this year. The President’s FY 2007 budget proposal would eliminate funding for technical education. For more information, see http://www.acteonline.org/members/news/frontpage_news/frontpage030806.cfm.
Disaster Unemployment AssistanceOn March 6th, the President signed into law P.L. 109-176, which extends the duration of disaster unemployment assistance from 26 to 39 weeks for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Special Events Moving Beyond Inclusion to Competitive AdvantageAn intensive, one-day conference on the role and importance of diversity for America’s growing companies will be held on May 3rd, 2006, at the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis. The underlying theme of the conference is that diversity is not only the socially-responsible way to grow a company, but is also a strategic prerequisite for business growth in today’s multicultural society. For more information, see www.growfastgrowright.com/diversity.htm.
2006 National Rapid Response SummitThe 2006 National Rapid Response Summit is scheduled for May 23rd-25th in St. Louis. Hosted by DoL’s Employment and Training Administration, the Summit will bring together frontline workforce professionals, policymakers, economic development professionals, and other workforce system partners to explore new directions in Rapid Response. This year’s theme is Gateway to Opportunities: Strengthening Our Communities through Economic and Workforce Development. The registration deadline is May 1st, 2006. For more information, see http://rrsummit.workforce3one.org.
Building the Broadband Economy 2006 - June 8th-9th, New York CityBuilding the Broadband Economy is an annual meeting place and "idea exchange" for government officials from around the world and their private-sector partners in telecom, IT, consulting, finance, and real estate. The focus this year is on the economic and social challenges that the" broadband economy" is creating for local communities, and on the ways that communities are adapting and learning to prosper from its unprecedented opportunities. It is being presented by the non-profit Intelligent Community Forum, in partnership with NAWB and Polytechnic University. NAWB members receive a special discount registration rate. Complete information and registration forms are available at http://www.intelligentcommunity.org. New Grant Opportunities
Proposals Sought for Work-Based Learning for Incumbent Workers in the Health IndustryA new, four-year national initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in collaboration with The Hitachi Foundation, will award grants for advancing and rewarding the skill and career development of incumbent workers providing care and services on the front lines of the health and health care systems. The Jobs to Careers initiative is being established to meet the needs of workers such as medical assistants, health educators, laboratory technicians, substance abuse counselors, and home health aides. Eligible applicants for the initiative are employers, educational institutions, or other organizations within a partnership that are public entities or non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations. Informational web conferences for interested applicants will be held April 3rd and April 5th. Proposals are due May 12, 2006. For more information, see the JOBS TO CAREERS website at http://www.jtcp.org.
Staples Foundation Grants for Job Skills Training and EducationThe mission of The Staples Foundation for Learning is to provide funding to programs that support or provide job skills and/or education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Eligible applicant organizations must have a nonprofit tax-exempt classification under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and must align with the mission of The Staples Foundation for Learning. Applications can be made on-line, and grant decisions are made on a quarterly basis. The maximum grant is $25,000. The next application deadline is April 10, 2006. For more information, see http://www.staplesfoundation.org/foundapplication.html. REMEMBER: NAWB, in partnership with GrantStation, brings you the GrantStationInsider each week via email. Be sure to review it for more grant opportunities and for information on conferences and trainings for grant seekers!
From the States
LouisianaGovernor Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana, in her State of the State Address on March 27th, emphasized the importance of education and workforce training, and asked for support of her proposal for $15 million to expand and retrain the Louisiana workforce. Here is an excerpt from her Address: “Education feeds into workforce training. Preparing our citizens for good jobs is another important step on the ladder out of poverty. It is also a key step on our road to recovery. Training a quality workforce influences economic development by attracting new businesses and industries to the state. This is why I ask you to support a $15 million dollar investment to expand and retrain our workforce. Rebuilding our state requires skilled workers on an unprecedented scale. We can train displaced workers to rebuild their neighborhoods. We can partner our businesses and industries with our colleges and training programs. This investment will prepare the first 10,000 additional workers to meet the coming demands of a rebuilding economy. A strong Louisiana workforce will fuel our recovery and spur economic development.” For the full text of Governor Branco’s address, see http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=1753. |
Vol VI Issue 6 IN THIS ISSUE:
 Remember to go to CapWiz to see if your Senators voted in favor of the Specter-Harkin Amendment. Thank them for their support and urge them to continue supporting the restoration of funding for the Workforce Investment Act and Employment Services during the upcoming appropriations deliberations. Have you invited your Members of Congress to visit your One-Stop during the Congressional recesses? Members will be in their home districts April 10-21.
National Association of Workforce Boards |