From Capitol Hill March 14, 2006 The Senate is debating the Budget Resolution on the floor all week. Two amendments are being offered that are extremely important to WIA funding. They both could be voted on as early as today.

First, Senators Specter and Harkin are offering an amendment that would add $7 billion to Budget Functions 500, 550, and 600 (which are comprised of all programs within the purview of the Labor- HHS Appropriations Subcommittee). The amendment would restore funding for education, health, social services, and WIA programs to FY 05 levels. This is a major amendment in the budget debate that would make a dramatic difference in Senate funding prospects for key domestic programs, including WIA.

Second, NWA spoke to Senator Kennedy on Thursday about the amendment he was expected to offer to restore funding for Higher Education, asking him to also include WIA funding in this amendment. We are pleased that his Kennedy/Collins/Menendez amendment now includes $750 million for WIA, along with funding for higher ed.

The Kennedy amendment was debated this morning and the Specter/Harkin amendment may receive floor time later today. We met with Senators Specter and Harkin this morning, and they are concerned that if a vote occurs on the Kennedy Amendment before the Specter/Harkin Amendment, they may lose some support for their amendment, which refunds the entire Labor-HHS funding allocation. Specter and Harkin are working to have their vote before the Kennedy Amendment.

These amendments are both very important to the workforce system and we support both of them strongly. We continue to hope that the Specter/Harkin Amendment receives a vote and is adopted before the Kennedy Amendment, allowing Senators to vote first on the entire funding allocation.

The vote on both of these amendments are expected to be extremely close and it is important to call your Senators today and ask for their support of the Specter/Harkin amendment and the Kennedy/Collins/Menendez education and job training amendment.

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The National Workforce Association is a membership organization dedicated to strengthening the nation's workforce development system. Formerly called the National Association of County Training and Employment Professionals, NWA is one of the largest of over 23 affiliates with NACo (National Association of Counties). NWA members are directors and staff of workforce investment areas, One-Stop Centers, service providers, educational institutions, state associations representing workforce professionals and corporations. Anyone is welcome to join. All that's needed is an interest in workforce issues. NWA brings workforce development partners together!

GOALS For NWA

NWA's goal is to: • provide expertise and input to federal, state and local elected officials to enable them to make sound policy decisions about the workforce system and • promote innovation and excellent performance in locally based workforce programs through conferences, training sessions, publications and peer- to-peer exchanges.