Category: Advocate

When Congress failed to avert automatic spending cuts, otherwise known as “sequestration,” in early March, it felt like a non-event for many. While the airwaves were littered with the news and predictions of its impact, for people on Main Street USA, life went on pretty much as usual. This week, however, the airwaves and headlines were full of content about automatic spending cuts, causing air traffic controllers to be furloughed, resulting in flight delays.

READ MORE from Goodwill Urges Policymakers to Protect Job Training Investments

Like many Americans, the Boston Marathon bombings have led me to experience a roller coaster of emotions. One journalist noted that marathons are a place where news bumps into you. One doesn't have to seek out a story. A colleague from another organization asked me if I had a standard presentation on incorporating stories into advocacy and I pointed him in the direction of our My Story initiative. I ask you to share your uplifting story, think about how you weave those stories into your advocacy, and be sure to recognize when news bumps into you.

READ MORE from From Tragedy to Resiliency: Incorporating Stories into Advocacy Efforts

In 1920, presidential candidate Warren Harding campaigned on a “return to normalcy” promise after the end of World War I, a war that unhinged most of Europe from aristocratic rule and left many more people disillusioned. After the calamity of the Great Recession of 2008-2011, many Americans also became disillusioned with their government. What Americans needed was for their elected leaders to work together to right the ship of state. What they got instead were constant ideological battles, an inability or unwillingness to work together, and threats of government defaults, shutdowns and sequesters. But this year Congress might have finally woken up and listened.

READ MORE from America’s Budget Process: A Return to Normalcy?

The editorial page of this Sunday’s Washington Post featured the article, “Congress debates the future of job-training program.” Rather than presenting a refreshing and balanced perspective on an important, yet long-delayed, piece of legislation, the editorial rehashed an old partisan debate over a false choice: Should the nation’s network of job training programs be consolidated or not?

READ MORE from Congressional Job Training Debate Focuses on a False Choice

My Facebook feed was filled this week with posts and pictures of people commenting on the recent cases before the Supreme Court. I walked past the people who lined up for days in order to get a glimpse of the oral arguments, and I started to think about what motivates them to take action. Why aren’t people showing the same level of engagement when it comes to issues before Congress?

READ MORE from When Will Our Generation Take a Stand for Jobs?

For workforce stakeholders, March has been an eventful month. Early in the month, Congress failed to avert automatic spending cuts, commonly referred to as “sequestration,” from taking place. This cut is resulting in a 5 percent cut to job training and other programs that allow Goodwill® to do more to help people to find jobs and advance in careers. Further, the cut will feel deeper since it is being applied late in the fiscal year.

READ MORE from For Workforce Stakeholders, It’s March Madness

During last year’s tax filing season, more than 27 million American families were refunded in excess of $62 billion by taking advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit, or the Earned Income Credit (EITC or EIC). However, each year, millions of families fail to take advantage of billions of dollars in EITC refunds that they are eligible to receive. If your family is considered low-income or medium-income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), your family may be losing out on potential tax refund dollars.

READ MORE from This Tax Season, Take Advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit

Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to consider the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act (H.R. 803). The bill proposes to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) while consolidating 35 job training programs in a single block grant to states. On March 6, 2013, the House Education and the Workforce Committee passed the bill 23-0. Democratic members of the committee walked out on the vote to protest the partisan process being used to advance the bill.

READ MORE from Action Needed to Prevent One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Job Training

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) has noted concerns that the skills gap makes it difficult for employers to fill jobs with qualified workers and that the more than 50 federal job training programs present a complicated maze for job seekers to navigate. In response to these concerns, Rep. Foxx has introduced the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act, which proposes to eliminate 35 job training programs into a single one-size-fits-all block grant to states. Tell Congress to set aside old disagreements to build upon the strengths of existing programs to develop a broad workforce system that serves employers and businesses, serves people, and contributes to building stronger families and communities.

READ MORE from Tell Congress to Put Job Seekers' Needs above Partisan Differences

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) has noted concerns that the skills gap makes it difficult for employers to fill jobs with qualified workers and that the more than 50 federal job training programs present a complicated maze for job seekers to navigate. In response to these concerns, Rep. Foxx has introduced the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act, which proposes to eliminate 35 job training programs into a single one-size-fits-all block grant to states. Tell Congress to set aside old disagreements to build upon the strengths of existing programs to develop a broad workforce system that serves employers and businesses, serves people, and contributes to building stronger families and communities.

READ MORE from Tell Congress to Put Job Seekers’ Needs above Partisan Differences

As the nation slowly recovers from the worst recession since the Great Depression and unemployment remains high, job training programs face a dual threat this year. Members of Congress need to hear from their constituents that job training is important to our economic recovery. At a time when unemployment remains high, these resources are an important part of the nation’s economic recovery and job creation effort.

READ MORE from Act Now to Protect Job Training Programs from Budget Cuts

As the president lays out the priorities for the administration during his second-term and a new Congress reconvenes with its own agenda, now is the time to let your voice be heard and to speak up for those groups who were not referenced. Sign up for Goodwill’s Legislative Action Center to contact your members of Congress. Share the alerts and updates with your own networks, and educate other stakeholders about how the acts of Congress will affect Goodwill. Let’s make sure the important groups overlooked in the State of the Union are not forgotten as Congress considers these cuts.

READ MORE from Stand Up for People, Priorities Overlooked in the State of the Union Address