The U.S. Senate recently passed a resolution designating September as "National Workforce Development Month." It’s a time to recognize the important contributions that local workforce stakeholders, including community-based organizations like Goodwill®, provide in support of job seekers and career advancers, particularly those who have faced employment challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ MORE from Workforce Month Highlights Need for Investment
The House of Representatives returned to Washington, DC for a moment during their summer recess for a crucial vote on the budget resolution. The budget resolution which already passed the Senate, sets the stage to allow committees to move forward with crafting the reconciliation package which will include investments outlined in President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.
READ MORE from Ask Congress to Invest in Workforce Development
After a flurry of activity in the Senate, both chambers are now in recess for the time being. The Senate recently passed a bipartisan infrastructure package, followed by the partisan passage of the budget resolution which only received support from Democrats. Keep reading to learn the key items of interest to Goodwill® and the people we serve.
by Laura Walling, Senior Director of Government Relations, Goodwill Industries International The Senate spent most of the week reviewing the 2,700-page infrastructure proposal and debating amendments. They will work through the weekend before taking a vote on final passage likely early next week. Some issues remain unresolved, including a pending amendment would allow state and
READ MORE from Senate Moves Closer to Voting on the Infrastructure Bill
Racing to Recess A looming vacation always provides great motivation to get work done. This statement holds true for Congress as well as lawmakers prepare for the August recess. The Senate passed a procedural vote on a bipartisan infrastructure package with 17 Republicans joining 50 Democrats to move the bill forward, although this does not mean they will all support the final bill.
Congressional leaders continue to discuss the components of a forthcoming reconciliation bill that will include components of President Biden’s American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan that won’t be covered by the bipartisan infrastructure framework.
READ MORE from Urge Congress to Support Investments in Workforce Development
Congressional leaders have agreed upon a $3.5 trillion cap for a forthcoming reconciliation bill that will include components of President Biden’s American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan that won’t be covered by the bipartisan infrastructure framework. In his initial proposal, the President called for $100 billion for workforce development activities over the next ten years.
READ MORE from Take Action to Support Investments in Workforce Development
As lawmakers return from a July 4th recess, deadlines loom that will make for a busy summer. Suspension of the debt ceiling is set to expire July 31 and there is not a clear path forward as to whether Congress will let it expire or extend the suspension. The debt ceiling is the maximum amount of money the government can borrow to pay for its bills.
Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona have recently been making the rounds on Capitol Hill to pitch lawmakers on President Biden’s legislative priorities for workforce development and education.
READ MORE from Administration Promotes Workforce and Education Priorities on Capitol Hill
The House Education and Labor Committee recently held a hearing on the role of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in promoting successful reentry models for people impacted by the justice system. The committee heard testimony from a panel of witnesses that included representatives of community-based organizations, employers, and other stakeholder groups working to advance training and employment for justice-involved individuals.
READ MORE from Congress Seeks Bipartisan Updates to the Workforce System
The digital skills gap and a lack of broadband access in many households across the country has left millions of Americans at a significant disadvantage in pursuing learning and employment opportunities. In 2019, before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Pew Research Center survey demonstrated rates of internet adoption were lowest among older Americans, low-income individuals, those with a high school diploma or less, Black Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities, and people living in rural communities.
President Biden released the full version of his Administration’s fiscal year 2022 (FY22) budget, which calls for $6 trillion in spending and a deficit of $1.8 trillion. The proposal provides details for allocations for federal agencies following topline requests that were released as part of the “skinny” budget in early April.
