Category: Advocate

As the nation’s largest provider of job training services, Goodwill® knows that work is one of the keys to successful reentry from prison. Congress is on the verge of advancing the Second Chance Reauthorization Act, which expands existing correctional education and employment initiatives; increases the number of grant programs available to nonprofits; and improves accountability. Goodwill supports this bipartisan legislation and urges Congress to pass the bill this year.

READ MORE from Urge Your Members of Congress to Support Programs That Reduce Recidivism

Congress recessed last week until after Labor Day for its traditional August recess. For most of us, it’s a time for travel and vacations. Here in Washington, it’s also a time for reflecting on what has been accomplished and what remains to be done that can be done. So, here is a quick recap of this Congress’ achievement and what remains.

READ MORE from Congress Breaks on a High Note—But Defers Tough Decisions ‘Till the Fall

This week I had the great pleasure of working with Sandra Collins, assistant store manager from Goodwill Olympics and Rainier Region (Tacoma, WA), as she testified before a House Ways and Means subcommittee during a hearing titled Subsidized Job Programs and Their Effectiveness in Helping Families Go to Work and Escape Poverty.

READ MORE from Tacoma Goodwill Employee Testifies Before Congressional Subcommittee

Today we are asking you to join Goodwill in our efforts to help people with disabilities around the world receive equal treatment in accessing these same services. Take action and urge your Senators to support U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

READ MORE from Take Action in Support of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Last week, Congress overwhelming cleared the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (H.R. 803) for the President’s expected signature. The action signals the end of an 11-year effort to reauthorize the nation’s job training program.

READ MORE from Life After Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Reauthorization

Following the Senate’s overwhelming 95–3 vote in June, the House voted 415–6 on July 9 to approve H.R. 803, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The bill will now go to President Barack Obama for his signature.

READ MORE from House Reauthorizes Workforce Programs in Historic Vote

Recently, the U.S. Senate demonstrated how differences can eventually be overcome and turned into unity. On June 24, it voted overwhelmingly to pass the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (H.R. 803). Now it’s the U.S. House of Representative’s turn to demonstrate its ability to discuss differences and then move forward in a positive direction.

READ MORE from Out of Many, One

Yesterday, the full Senate voted 95-3 to pass the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The Senate’s action clears the bill for House consideration. WIOA is a long-overdue bipartisan and bicameral compromise to reauthorize and update the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the law that shapes the nation’s approach to job training. Goodwill® has worked for years

READ MORE from Senate Passes Long-Overdue Job Training Bill: On to the House

If I had a magic wand, after winning the lottery and achieving world peace (in that order), I’d shift the debate about poverty reduction from “did these investments work?” to “how can these investments work better?”

READ MORE from To Break the Generational Cycle of Poverty, Look at the Whole Picture

The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program provides employment and support services to people with disabilities. Seen as having achieved mixed results, this year Congress is likely to reauthorize the nation’s job training program through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which would impact VR.

READ MORE from Major Provisions of Title IV in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Time is melting away on the 113th Congress. Just a few short weeks remain to take care of business. The House is scheduled to be in session 38 more days until the fiscal year ends on Oct. 1, 2014; the Senate for 51. And there is much to be done in those critical days.

READ MORE from Tick, Tock … The Congressional Clock Is Running Out

When I talk about the importance of being engaged in public policy despite partisan gridlock, I often talk about one of my kids’ favorite Dr. Seuss stories, called “The Zax.” In the story, a north-going Zax and a south-going Zax encounter each other in the Prairie of Prax. Rather than stepping an inch to the west or an inch to the east to allow both Zax to continue their journey, they square off and stubbornly hold their ground.

READ MORE from Remember the Zax!