DOL
PROPOSES CUTTING WIA AGAIN
...IN
FY 08 BUDGET REQUEST...
While the
Senate is focused on completing the FY 07 joint funding resolution
this coming week, the Budget and Appropriations Committees are
reviewing the President’s FY 08 budget request, which was submitted
to Congress on Monday. To the surprise of almost no one, the
Administration’s request seeks once again this year to make drastic
cuts to social programs while dramatically increasing Defense
spending.
The budget
request, which was viewed by Democrats as being dead even before
arrival, proposes deep cuts to domestic discretionary programs, $13
billion below funding levels in the FY 07 joint funding
resolution.
As was the case
last year, programs in the Labor- HHS account (which includes WIA)
are particularly targeted for cuts with funding levels over $2
billion below FY 05 funding levels – the levels that Senators Harkin
and Specter fought successfully to include in the FY 07 joint
funding resolution. When adjusted for inflation, programs in the
Labor-HHS account were cut closer to $15 billion.
The WIA funding
request bore the brunt of these cuts, $1 billion below the level in
the joint funding resolution. Almost all of the $700 million in cuts
proposed last year were included again with one addition – this year
the Administration also proactively requested a $335 million
rescission of PY 2006 WIA formula funds. A list of the funding
levels for key programs is attached
below.
Democrats have
indicated that they will provide more funding for domestic programs
than we have seen in the past few years, while also maintaining the
overall budget caps. It will be impossible for Democrats to meet all
of the requests from liberal Members of the Caucus and constituent
groups who have waited years for Democrats to return to power, and
increase funding for popular programs due to the inherent restraints
in this budget proposal.
However,
Democratic leaders from the Budget and Appropriations Committee told
NWA this week that they intend to quickly move the spending bills
this year. The House and Senate hope to mark up and pass their
Budget Resolutions on the floor in March, in time for the Easter
Recess, with a conferenced Budget Resolution being taken up soon
after their return in mid-April. They contrasted this approach with
their Republican predecessors who were unable to pass a Budget
Resolution last year and only completed two out of eleven
appropriations bills. However, these plans could be sidetracked in a
closely divided Senate.
Appropriators
intend to quickly follow up on the work of the Budget Committees by
marking up all their bills before the August recess. We could see
the Labor- HHS bills marked up as early as June this year according
to Democratic Committee sources.
WIA
Reauthorization - spring timetable and beyond
While there is
considerable optimism that WIA reauthorization can be completed by
this Congress, it may take longer than originally predicted by some
insiders. Senate HELP Committee staff are in the process of
completing their consultations with key stakeholder groups,
including NWA, and expect to have at least one hearing in March
before moving a bipartisan bill in April.
The House
Education and Labor Committee is expected to move at a slower pace
than the Senate process. Committee sources indicate that WIA is not
as high of a priority for Chairman Miller as several other
reauthorization bills. WIA will also be competing with No Child Left
Behind hearings that are expected to begin in the spring as
well.
When the
Education and Labor Committee begins its WIA reauthorization effort,
it will fall within the jurisdiction of a new Subcommittee, the
Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness
Subcommittee, Chaired by Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX). Chairman
Hinojosa is liked and respected by Members of both parties on the
Committee and has been able to work with Republican Members of the
Committee in the past to forge bipartisan compromises. Congressman
Ric Keller (R-FL) will once again be the lead Republican on the
Subcommittee. We expect that Chairman Miller will play the pivotal
role in reauthorization and receive strong input from folks in the
labor movement in its development. The new House and Senate
Subcommittee lineups can be found below.
Committee on
Education and Labor Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong
Learning, and Competitiveness
Democrats
(13)
- Rubén Hinojosa, Chairman
- George Miller
- John Tierney
- David Wu
- Timothy Bishop
- Jason Altimire
- Joe Courtney
- John Yarmuth
- Robert Andrews
- Robert C. "Bobby" Scott
- Danny Davis
- Mazie Hirono
- Susan Davis
Republicans
(10)
- Ric Keller, Ranking Member
- Thomas E. Petri
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers
- Virginia Foxx
- John R. “Randy” Kuhl, Jr
- Timothy Walberg
- Michael N. Castle
- Mark E. Souder
- Vernon J. Ehlers
- Judy Biggert
Employment
& Workplace Safety Subcommittee Democrats (13)
- Senator Patty Murray, Chair
- Senator Christopher J. Dodd
- Senator Tom Harkin
- Senator Barbara A. Mikulski
- Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton
- Senator Barack Obama
- Senator Sherrod Brown
- Senator Edward M. Kennedy (ex officio)
Republicans
(10)
- Senator Johnny Isakson
- Senator Richard Burr
- Senator Lisa Murkowski
- Senator Pat Roberts
- Senator Wayne Allard
- Senator Tom Coburn
- Senator Michael B. Enzi (ex officio)
Act Now and
Register for the 6th Annual NWA Conference!
Registration is
now open for NWA’s 6th Annual Legislative Conference in St.
Petersburg, FL. This year our conference will be held at the Vinoy
Renaissance Hotel, from December 1-4, 2007. The cornerstone
of the NWA Annual Conference is our connection to Members of
Congress. It is during NWA’s legislative conference that
knowledgeable and involved speakers and personalities will focus on
the issues that mean the most to our attendees and local workforce
directors. It is also at this conference that NWA members come
together to share current achievements and struggles, interact and
network and elect new officers at our board meeting. Most
importantly, it is at this conference that the NWA President and the
CEO lay out the goals of the association for the upcoming year.
Please act now and reg
ister for NWA’s 6th Annual Legislative Conference and ensure
your place at this very important event.
NWA Offers
Legislative Briefings for Local Workforce
Boards
The National
Workforce Association (NWA) is pleased to announce the availability
of specially designed legislative briefing sessions to help state
and local workforce agencies develop effective educational programs,
strengthen outreach to local and state elected officials, broaden
the appeal for your local workforce agenda, successfully communicate
the achievements of your local One-Stop operations, and strengthen
your responsiveness to the workforce development
community.
These
legislative sessions will be customized to meet your local areas
needs and give you a better understanding about the role your member
of Congress plays in the Workforce Development system here in
Washington. Each legislative briefing will provide practical steps
that will be designed to forward the work being accomplished by your
state and local workforce director, WIB members, staff and partners,
One-Stop managers and contractors, state workforce associations,
local economic development representatives, and local elected
officials. Through the presentation of the legislative briefing
sessions, NWA has been very successful in bringing the necessary
attention to the workforce development issue. These sessions support
the continuous improvement of the system and will aid you in your
understanding of the WIA Reauthorization process. To see details
about the next special session click
here, or call 202 842-4004 Ext. 232.
