NWA Workforce Times, Vol. 7, No. 4


	In This Issue

• Democratic Budget Moves Forward • Additional funding critical for Appropriators... • WIA reauthorization • Senate WIA Dear Colleague to be launched • Act Now and Register for the 6th Annual NWA Conference!


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	John Twomey, Pres. Mike Lawrence, V.P. John Morales, Tres. Blanche Shoup, Sec. Trenda Rusher, Past President David Bradley, C.E.O. National Workforce Association 810 First Street, NE Suite 530 Washington, DC 20002 Phone: 202-842-4004 Fax: 202-842-0449 email: info@NWAonline.org Learn More About Us

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March 26, 2007

Volume 7, No. 4

Democratic Budget Moves Forward

Budget passes Senate, House floor consideration this week

The Senate Budget resolution passed on a nearly party line vote on Friday, 52-47, with Senators Collins and Snowe of Maine providing the only Republican votes in support of the resolution. The Senate Budget provides $948 billion for discretionary programs, a $19 billion increase above the Administration’s request. Included in this increase is additional funding for Function 500, which funds education, training, and social service programs. Function 500 would receive an additional $9 billion above the President’s request, which is $4 billion above FY 07 levels for these programs.

The House Budget Resolution will be taken up on the floor on Wednesday and is also expected to be a close vote. The House Budget includes an additional $24 billion for discretionary programs, including an additional $8 billion for Function 500 above the President’s request, which is also $3 billion above FY 07 levels.

Budget Committee staff tell us that they will Conference the bill over the Easter recess at the staff level and hold a Conference Committee meeting when Members return the second week of April. A successful completion of the Budget process this year is viewed as a critical component of the new Democratic majority’s effort to prove it can govern effectively.

Additional funding critical for Appropriators...

The increase in discretionary spending, and in Function 500 in particular, is important to the workforce system, as it will provide a larger overall funding base for Appropriators once the Budget Resolution is completed. Labor-HHS Appropriators tell us that there are huge holes to fill in their Subcommittee allocation, as the Administration’s budget request for Labor-HHS contains $5 billion in increases for a number of popular programs, while still having a $3 billion overall cut in their bill. The additional discretionary funding provided by the Budget Committee will make in easier to restore some of the Administration’s proposed cuts, while retaining increases in priority programs.

However, it is important to note that just because there is more money for discretionary spending, does not mean that it is will be directed to restore funding for WIA. Special interest groups are already claiming their share of the increased funding, plus millions more, particularly in the health and education fields. We will need to be very active during the Appropriations process to ensure that Appropriators are aware of the devastating impact of the proposed Bush cuts to the workforce system.

WIA reauthorization

We have met with both senior Members and Committee staff in both chambers regarding WIA reauthorization in the past couple of weeks. There are a number of things to be aware of at this stage of the process this year:

We are hearing that there is a lack of urgency in both chambers in dealing with reauthorization at this juncture – as a result, we need to take the lead on engaging Members about the importance of reauthorizing the bill this year.
The Senate is far ahead of the House in their reauthorization effort this year. Senate HELP Committee staff have completed their meetings with interest groups on the bill allowing them to move forward with substantive negotiations between the parties. However, the Higher Education Act is ahead of WIA on the Committee’s agenda and many of the same staff handle both issues, slowing down progress on WIA reauthorization. Senior Committee staff tell us that the most likely timetable for WIA reauthorization in the Senate is Committee consideration in May.
Some senior Committee Members are telling us that No Child Left Behind Act reauthorization, the number one priority of both House Chairman George Miller (D-CA) and Senate Chair Ted Kennedy (D-MA), is potentially moving ahead of WIA reauthorization in both chambers. If this happens, it will be much more difficult to get WIA reauthorization completed, due to the squeeze on the Committee’s scheduling.
Democrats are committed to making legislative headway this year. However, the partisan split between Democrats and Republicans is quickly widening with Republicans blaming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Organized labor’s enthusiasm for reauthorization is in question.
The “faith based” issue continues to die a slow death. Some Committee Republicans will continue to force actions on faith based agenda both in Committee and on the floor.
Senate Democrats intend to hold at least one hearing on WIA reauthorization. House Democrats have discussed holding several hearings, with at least one in Subcommittee Chairman Ruben Hinojosa’s (D-TX) district. Chairman Hinojosa has a good working relationship with Ranking Member Ric Keller (R-FL).
Some Republican Members of the HELP Committee may not fall in line easily behind Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-WY) this year, who has been instrumental in the last two Congresses in ensuring WIA reauthorization is a bipartisan effort. In particular, a new Member of the Committee, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has been a critic of the workforce system, highlighting WIA carryover in statements on the floor and in other Committee hearings.

Senate WIA Dear Colleague to be launched

We have been working closely with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to launch a Dear Colleague funding letter to the Labor- HHS Appropriations Subcommittee in support of WIA funding next week. The letter will request that the Administration’s proposed funding cuts and rescission be rejected and FY 05 funding levels be restored. Once the Dear Colleague letter is launched, we will circulate it to other workforce organizations to ask their assistance in our effort to get as many Senators to sign on as possible.

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.

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