Congress and the Administration Move Forward with Training and Workforce Legislation.

Happy New Year to all!

Congress is moving forward on the Jobs Bill and Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization

As we get back to work, so does Congress. But right before the break, in the middle of the heated health care debate, a couple of interesting happenings on jobs and training did occur. In early December, the Republicans on the House Education and Labor Committees put forth their version of the Workforce Investment Act reauthorization. Calling it the Workforce Improvement Act, it is listed as HR 4271. The bill is highlighted by several themes:

Increasing efficiency, focusing on results.

Eliminating barriers to effective programs and services.

Fostering regional economic development.

Strengthening programs for targeted populations.

You can read the full highlights of the bill on the Republican's ED Labor Committee site:

http://republicans.edlabor.house.gov/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1396&IID=14

There is a strong feeling among congressional staff that WIA will be "done" in 2010. We will keep you posted here.

Over in the full House, members passed the Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010. The $154 Billion package includes many provisions to address unemployment and job creation. The funding for this bill is also becoming controversial. The House is planning on using the remaining funding from the Toxic Assets Relief Program (TARP) to fund this bill. The vote was close, passing 217-212 just before the holiday. No House Republicans and 38 Democrats voted against the bill.

Here is summary from the House Appropriations Committee on this bill:

http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/Jobs\_for\_Main\_Street\_Act\_of\_2010\_Summary.pdf

This bill now needs to move to the Senate over the next couple of months to see if it will pass. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

And, just in time for this posting, President Obama on January 6th announced $250 Million for teacher STEM training. Here is a link back to the Washington Post article outlining this initiative:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/05/AR2010010503981.html