Advocate

Senior Job Seekers Stand to Benefit from New Senate Bill

Posted: February 2, 2012
By Jordan Abushawish

Senior job seekers stand to benefit from a new bill recently introduced in the Senate to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA). Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced the bill (S. 2037) on January 26 and highlighted several provisions in the legislation, including those intended to strengthen and expand the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).

State of the Union Address Includes Programs for Job Seekers

Posted: January 26, 2012
By Seth Turner

On Tuesday evening, U.S. President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address to Congress, outlining messages that are likely to form the foundation for his reelection campaign. The president’s speech acknowledged that, at a time when unemployment is stubbornly declining from the highest rates experienced in a generation, growing industries in science and technology can’t find workers with the right skills to perform the jobs they need to fill.

Congressional Action Can Prevent Worsening Poverty Situation

Posted: January 19, 2012
By Laura Walling

A new study released by Indiana University finds that poverty is likely to get worse despite a recovering economy due to long periods of unemployment, continued impact on budget cuts to social programs and the quality of new jobs. The study warns that if Congress does not protect benefits for the long-term unemployed, and continues to make cuts to social safety net programs while reducing state fiscal relief, the poverty situation will worsen.

Goodwill® Sets Agenda to Support Job Seekers in the Recovery

Posted: January 12, 2012
By Jordan Abushawish

While jobless claims and the unemployment rate are showing some improvement in the overall employment picture, it’s interesting to look behind these numbers and examine just who is suffering – and benefiting — the most during this modest recovery. In consonance with these findings, GII’s 2012 Public Policy Agenda was drafted in close consultation with Goodwill members and leaders of GII’s mission advancement team.

Congress to Resume Spending Bill Discussions on Heels of 2011 Logjams

Posted: January 5, 2012
By Laura Walling

When the 112th Congress wrapped up its first session in December, it left behind a legacy of partisanship that caused public approval ratings to reach historic lows. As the second session kicks into gear this month, lawmakers will have to work quickly on payroll tax relief, emergency unemployment benefits, and reauthorization of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), all of which were only extended through February .Goodwill® looks forward to Congress addressing several other issues of importance to the enterprise and the people we serve.

Congress’ Year-End Spending Agreement Includes Support for Programs Significant to Goodwill®

Posted: December 22, 2011
By Seth Turner

On December 17, the Senate voted 67-32 to approve a $915 billion “megabus” spending package. The bill provides $10.7 billion to the Department of Labor’s Employment Training Administration (ETA), which administers several programs that support local Goodwill® agencies’ efforts to help people find jobs and advance in careers.

Proposed Legislation Aims to Consolidate Federal Job Training Programs

Posted: December 15, 2011
By Seth Turner

African-American man participants in automotive job training programIn response to a January 2011 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), introduced the Streamlining Workforce Development Programs Act last week, which proposes to eliminate 33 existing training programs and consolidate them under four new workforce investment funds.

Goodwill® Announces 2012 Public Policy Priorities

Posted: December 8, 2011
By Seth Turner

U.S. Capitol BuildingWhile election-year politics are expected to dominate the 2012 congressional session, a number of issues that Goodwill® cares about are likely to be up for discussion by Congress next year. In anticipation of these conversations, Goodwill has released its official public policy agenda for 2012.

Goodwill® Educates Donors, Congress on Charitable Giving This Holiday Season

Posted: December 1, 2011
By Laura Walling

During the economic downturn of the past few years, charitable donations have decreased dramatically across the nonprofit sector, with some leaders predicting it will it take charities six years to return to where they were financially in 2007. Further reductions in these donations will reduce nonprofits’ ability to serve the individuals and families who rely on them for job training and other critical community-based services.

With one month remaining in the 2011 tax year, Goodwill® is empowering donors like you to make informed decisions about where you donate, and urging Congress to protect charitable giving incentives that ensure you continue to receive a deduction for your contributions.

Spending Cuts Uncertain Following Supercommittee Failure

Posted: November 23, 2011
By Seth Turner

On Monday, November 21, 2011, leaders of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction confirmed that the supercommittee was unable to craft a bi-partisan agreement for cutting the deficit by $1.2 trillion before Wednesday’s deadline. As a result of the panel’s failure, a range of federal programs face automatic spending cut unless Congress can reach an agreement before January 2013.