Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill, Chair of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Jobs, Education and Workforce Committee opened the Committee meeting with a thanks to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for funding the upcoming Mayors Skill Summits which she announced the following day. The Conference will hold a series of four Mayors Skills Summits as part of a national effort to address the skills gap and provide input into the new Administration and Congress on the workforce needs of cities. "Mayors will continue to shape the national agenda for jobs, education and the workforce with our experience and our policy from this Committee. These Summits are an important avenue for mayors to play a critical role in addressing the needs of the labor market and the skills gap," Mayor O'Neill told committee members.

 O'Neill encouraged mayors to get involved in their local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) who will be a key partner in the Summits. "Let them know how important they are - visit and thank them," said O'Neill. WIBs are the mayors local workforce policy and strategic planning board who were instituted by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA).

Raymond Uhalde, US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Deputy Assistant Secretary, echoed Mayor O'Neill's remarks, "Mayors Workforce Investment Boards are vital to economic development in your cities. Business and elected officials are critical to validate that WIBs are an important resource for your community," Uhalde said. In addition to WIBs, Uhalde discussed four areas of importance for workforce development in the next year including reform of the unemployment insurance system, immigration reform, welfare reform and technology training funded by H1B visas.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Lee R. Clancey who has been very involved with her local WIB raised a workforce issue common to many areas in the middle of the country. Clancey reported that Cedar Rapids is very interested in attracting immigrant workers, especially engineers and information technology workers, yet they are hampered by immigration laws. Iowa has a 1.4% unemployment rate and cannot grow as fast as many other areas without a supply of a skilled workforce.

Jane Oates, Senior Education Advisor, for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), commended the mayors on championing the cause for youth and getting the additional $102 million in Department of Labor youth funding. Oates was very positive about the newly negotiated co-leadership of Senate Committees, which is now engaged in Cabinet nomination hearings. Oates encouraged mayors to weigh in on the selection of the under secretaries and deputies for various federal agencies which are involved in Federal workforce investment policy. While the first session of 107th Congress will focus on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Oates said that Senate HELP Committee does plan to hold oversight hearings on WIA implementation and expects a WIA technical amendments package. Oates urged mayors to let them know what needs to be fixed in WIA.

Rochester Mayor William A. Johnson, Jr. indicated concern about how implementation of WIA has negatively impacted the city of Rochester and welcomed the invitation to provide testimony at the WIA oversight hearings. Oates closed by encouraging mayors to weigh in early on pending legislation in the 107th Congress including the reauthorization of welfare reform.

Thomas Corwin, Director of Elementary, Secondary and Vocational Analysis, Budget Service, U.S. Department of Education, reported on the largest budget increase in history for the Department of Education which included $1.2 billion in federal support for school renovation. Corwin encouraged mayors to get involved in the reauthorization of ESEA, which expired two years ago. Corwin projected areas of focus in education for the Bush Administration including a major commitment to literacy, flexibility, and accountability for performance, greater choice, teacher training and early childhood education.

Eugene (OR) Mayor James D. Torrey raised concern about the need to provide assistance to schools to help Hispanic students read in English. Mayor Torrey asked Corwin to encourage the Department of Education to provide best practices from around the country on how to address the needs of first generation Hispanic-American students.