 An email bulletin on national issues, exclusively for NAWB
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Congressional ScheduleThe House and Senate Republican leadership is aiming to recess no later than September 30th. However, the Democratic leadership is opposed to that schedule, asserting that much important work is left to be completed by the 109th Congress. With only two appropriations bill (defense and homeland security) having a chance to be passed before the recess, the lame duck session following the November elections will make for a crowded schedule. AppropriationsThe defense appropriations bill, which was reported out by conferees and passed by the House, is slated for a Senate vote prior to the recess. That appropriations bill also contains a continuing resolution that would fund government operations for most federal agencies and programs at FY 2006 levels through November 17th. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Lewis (R-CA) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Cochran (R-MS) are asking GOP leaders to avoid combining unfinished FY 2007 spending bills into an omnibus bill following the elections. However, given the short time frame for completion of appropriations, it is likely that at least some appropriations bills, including Labor-HHS-Education, will be bundled together. Meanwhile, House Republican moderates, led by Representative Castle (R-DE), sent a letter to House Majority Leader Boehner (R-OH) in support of adding $3 billion to the FY 2007 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill during conference following the elections. Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Committee Chairman Specter (R-PA) and the Committee’s Ranking Minority Member Senator Harkin (D-IA) are circulating a letter in the Senate in support of adding funds to the bill. Workforce Investment Act (WIA) ReauthorizationThe Local Workforce Coalition—NAWB, the National Association of Counties (NACo), the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Workforce Association (NWA), and USA WORKS!—comprises the principal organizations representing local officials and business leaders responsible for the design and delivery of the U.S. workforce investment system. The Coalition is urging Senate HELP Committee Chairman Enzi (R-WY) and Ranking Minority Member Senator Kennedy (D-MA)—and, their House counterparts—to move ahead to conference on the WIA reauthorization bill, and to pass the WIA reauthorization this year. The Coalition continues to strongly recommend that the legislation clarify the important role that local boards are expected to play in the convening of regional stakeholders for development of regional and economic development strategies, and as the broker of services, especially training to meet the skill needs of job seekers and employers in their regions. The Coalition is also urging Congress to strongly oppose any further changes in the fundamental structure of the workforce system until WIA reauthorization legislation is enacted. Higher Education ActIt appears the Higher Education Act (HEA) may be headed for a one-year extension. Chairman Keller (R-FL) of the House Workforce and Education Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness is sponsoring a bill to extend HEA through June 30, 2007. A full five-year reauthorization is unlikely to occur this Congress. Announcements Recognizing The Importance of Employing Experienced WorkersThe U.S. Department of Labor designated the week of September 24th-30th, 2006, National Employ Older Workers Week State and local WIBs, One-Stop Career Centers, and state workforce agencies were encouraged to provide leadership in activities to promote the importance of experienced workers in the workforce. It is estimated that in 2010, 20% of the workforce will be 55 or older. For more information, contact the Employment and Training Administration Regional Office in your area (see http://www.doleta.gov/regions/regoffices/.
Webinar on Competency Model Clearinghouse Scheduled for October 5thThe Competency Model Clearinghouse is an on-line resource that includes information about industry competency models, competency-based curricula, assessment and certification, and skills standards. A webinar on the Clearinghouse will be held October 5, 2006, at 2:00 pm Eastern Time via the workforce3one website. For more information, see http://www.workforce3one.org/public/skillbuilding/webinar_info.cfm?id=124
Conference on English Language Learning to be Held October 27th-28thLaGuardia Community College’s Center for Immigrant Education and Training and the Center for Teaching and Learning are hosting a national workforce development conference in New York City entitled Bridges to Opportunity. The conference is part of an English language learning project conducted under a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. Participants will explore the critical challenge to increasing English language capacity among the immigrant workforce. For more information, see http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/ace/bridges. Resources
Economic Development Administration (EDA) Publishes Revised RegulationsFollowing a two-year effort, the EDA has published its final rule in the Federal Register. The regulations are the culmination of a collaborative effort among Congress, economic development districts, and other EDA stakeholders. The final rule contains best-practice guidelines for the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). In addition, EDA has awarded a research grant to develop a new regional economic development curriculum for the benefit of local development officials and EDA district staff. For more information, seehttp://www.eda.gov/.
GAO Report States Response Time for NEG Grant Applications is ImprovedA new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO-06-870) indicates that response time for National Emergency Grant (NEG) applications has improved. GAO compared data from Program Years 2000-2002 with data from Program Year 2004 and found that the timeline to award grants decreased from an average of 50 days to an average of 25 days. The report also examines the Department of Labor’s data collection under the Workforce Investment Act Standardized Record Data (WIASRD) database. To download the report, go to http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06870.pdf.
State News
WisconsinThe Governor's Council on Workforce Investment (CWI) moved Wisconsin to the forefront in advanced manufacturing by adopting new national skill standards and awarded $100,000 to workforce development boards throughout the state. The Wisconsin CWI adopted the Manufacturing Skills Standards Certification (MSSC) system. Through this system, new and incumbent workers can have their skills assessed and can structure training accordingly. The State Job Centers and the Wisconsin Technical College System will implement the new standards into their curriculum and provide workers with the training necessary to achieve certification. For more information, see http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/dwd/newsreleases/2006/0922_cwi_standards.pdf.
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services is working in partnership with several economic development organizations throughout Wyoming to recruit unemployed and/or laid off workers in Michigan. The Department and its economic development partners are hosting a job fair in Flint, Michigan on October 12th and in Grand Rapids, Michigan on October 14th. According to Department of Workforce Services Director Kathy Emmons, “We are trying to recruit workers with similar skills sets and similar cultures to come live and work in Wyoming. Workers from the auto plants in Michigan have these highly-technical skill sets that so many of Wyoming’s industries need including the energy industry.” For more information, see http://www.wyomingworkforce.org/news/articles/text_2006-09-27.htm.
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Vol VI Issue 19 IN THIS ISSUE:
 Upcoming Congressional Recess: Call to Action Task It is important that every Member contact their Member of Congress when they are home for the October recess to educate them about the impacts of budget cuts on their local job seekers and employers. Got News to Share? If you have news to share of interest to NAWB’s members, please email a BRIEF article (one or two paragraphs) to gworkforce@netscape.net. Please include contact information so that we may follow up with you for any clarification. We will only include items as our editorial policy permits.
National Association of Workforce Boards |