Tag: WIA

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

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

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 nation slowly recovers from the worst recession since the Great Depression, and concerns about the deficit remain front and center, some policymakers are tempted to consolidate the workforce system in the name of reform. While a case can be made that broad consolidation would lead to some savings and efficiencies, I believe — especially because several key laws are due for Congressional review — the current dialogue must shift from consolidation to promoting integration and collaboration among existing resources and programs.

READ MORE from Unemployment: Are We Treating Symptoms or the Patient?

While Congress may have averted the fiscal cliff for now, the new Congress will have its work cut out for it with a number of diverse policy issues vying for attention. In the midst of these discussions, organizations like Goodwill continue to take advantage of opportunities to educate new members about our mission of providing job training and other community based programs to people with barriers to employment.

READ MORE from Goodwill® Previews Issues on the Public Policy Front in 2013

This week, Congress reconvened in a lame-duck session in order to wrap up unfinished business. Its most pressing responsibility is finding a solution to reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion over 10 years in order to avoid automatic spending cuts that will otherwise take effect at the beginning of next year. Goodwill supporters can take action now by urging Congress to support a balanced and bipartisan approach to deficit reduction.

READ MORE from Tell Congress to Remember Key Job Training Programs in Fiscal Cliff Discussions

Are you suffering from election fatigue? I’m a total policy wonk but living in a swing state with a heated Senate race means even I’m afraid to answer my phone, turn on the radio and television, or open my mailbox. We’re still four weeks out from Election Day and believe it or not, legislators can still get things done during the lame duck session, which is why it’s important that Goodwill® advocates remain engaged.

READ MORE from Lame Duck Session Critical for Job Training, Education Programs

At a time when unemployment remains high, resources that support workforce development and job training are an important part of the nation’s economic recovery and job creation effort. Unfortunately, automatic spending cuts, slated to take effect in January 2013, threaten to drastically reduce these resources, which support the efforts of local Goodwill® agencies in communities across the United States to help people who face employment challenges to find jobs and advance in careers.

READ MORE from Automatic Spending Cuts Threaten Resources that Help People Find Jobs

On Wednesday, July 18, the U.S. House of Representatives appropriations subcommittee voted 8-6 to approve its spending bill for FY 2013. Last week, we encouraged you to urge your members of Congress to protect funding for these programs. There is still time to take action.

READ MORE from House Protects Investments in Job Training Programs – Action Still Needed