Category: Advocate

Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon have been making the rounds on Capitol Hill to pitch lawmakers on President Trump’s priorities for workforce development and education. Both Chavez-DeRemer and McMahon recently appeared before congressional committees of the House and Senate to discuss the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget, though the Administration has not yet released a detailed budget plan for federal agencies and activities.

READ MORE from Trump Cabinet Defends President’s Budget Plan on Capitol Hill

Congressional Republicans are attempting to pass a tax and spending reconciliation bill, however first they must reconcile their differences. Budget reconciliation is a congressional procedure that allows for expedited consideration of certain tax, mandatory spending, and debt limit legislation. The reconciliation process will allow the bill to pass with a simple majority and avoid a filibuster in the Senate.

READ MORE from Lawmakers Attempt to Reconcile over Reconciliation

Recently, the Trump Administration released its initial budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). As is common with the first budget of a new presidential administration, the “skinny” budget outline provided by the White House offers a preview of a more detailed FY26 funding plan that is expected to come out later this month.

READ MORE from The Trump Administration Budget Plan Calls for Cuts, Consolidation

On May 1st 130 leaders from local Goodwill organizations from across the United States are together on Capitol Hill, connecting with nearly 300 lawmakers and staff. Goodwill's advocates are talking with lawmakers about workforce development system reforms and funding, the impact of tax policies on nonprofits and Goodwill's role in textile recycling. You can help support these efforts virtually by sending a message to your lawmakers as part of Goodwill’s Virtual Advocacy Day!

READ MORE from Be an Advocate and Participate in Goodwill’s Virtual Advocacy Day!

On Thursday, May 1st, Goodwill leaders, employees, board members and program participants from across the country will travel to Capitol Hill to advocate for the issues that matter most to local Goodwill organizations and the people they serve. You can help amplify our advocacy. Virtual advocacy is a powerful tool to communicate with elected officials, and our Legislative Action Center makes it easy for you to contact your lawmakers.

READ MORE from Advocate Virtually Next Week During Goodwill on the Hill

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 650,000 people are released from federal and state prisons every year. The overwhelming majority of incarcerated people will return to their communities at some point, and many will confront significant challenges to finding employment, housing, education and other opportunities when reentering society.

READ MORE from Second Chance Month 2025

Recently, the House and Senate agreed to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).  The bill, which was signed into law by President Trump, averted a government shutdown that would have gone into effect on March 15 when the previous CR expired. 

READ MORE from Congress Resolves Funding Impasse and Turns to President’s Priorities

The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee of the Education and the Workforce Committee recently held a hearing on strengthening the workforce system and improving outcomes for job seekers through the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

READ MORE from House Committee Revisits Workforce Training Reauthorization

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted to advance the nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be the next Secretary of Labor. The former U.S. Representative from Oregon received bipartisan support in the committee and her nomination will now be considered by the full Senate.

READ MORE from Cabinet Picks Advance in the Senate

Preparing youth and adult learners for good-paying jobs in in-demand industries requires continued education and training beyond high school. But for many students, the lack of affordable options in traditional higher education has created challenges to enrollment and completion of the education and credentialing opportunities they need to achieve college and career success.

READ MORE from Senate Bill Offers New Pathways to Good JOBS

The executive branch continues to issue numerous orders and memos with the goals of reducing the size of government, identifying waste, fraud and abuse, and eliminating initiatives related to diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental justice. Some members of the legislative branch are pushing back on these measures via introducing legislation, submitting formal inquiries, and using procedural levers to slow confirmations; while other members of Congress are proposing legislation that align with the President’s agenda. With such close margins in the House and Senate, few bills are likely to pass both chambers.

READ MORE from Checks and Balances

Many nonprofits including Goodwill spent the week analyzing the scope of President Trump’s executive orders, assessing the impact of the temporary freeze in federal funding, looking at ways in which federally funded programs align with the new administration’s priorities, and monitoring court cases while still executing on our mission and serving our communities.

READ MORE from A Whirlwind Week