By Josie Hathway
April 28, 2003

The Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act of 2003, HR 1261, was passed by the House Education and the Workforce Committee on a party line vote on March 26. HR 1261 reauthorizes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). The U.S. Conference of Mayors, as part of a strong local coalition, successfully worked with Representative Howard "Buck" McKeon (CA), Chair of the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, to craft a bill that preserves the current local workforce delivery system and seeks to maintain the balance between the federal, state and local governments that was achieved by the crafters of WIA.

Though HR 1261 does not fully address the needs of mayors, particularly in the youth provisions, it is a step in the right direction, from the bill as introduced.

House floor debate will take place in the next few weeks and Governors are raising their voices to oppose the bill, arguing that legislation decreases their role and authority in the U.S. workforce investment system. The Conference believes this is not the case, and, in fact, HR 1261 reinforces the current balance of authority between federal, state and local governments. Governors not only keep their current authority, but in some areas the roles of governors are enhanced, including in areas such as system certification, performance accountability, providing technical assistance and encouragement for innovation, and setting statewide workforce policies.

Advocates for increasing the authority of Governors are pushing for the House to redraft HR 1261 to reflect the Administration's original proposals, which give enormous power to governors. Under the Administration's proposal, governors have greater authority and significantly increased portions of workforce funds. The Administration's proposal also provides governors with broad waiver authority to eliminate roles for local elected officials and local workforce boards, and for the state to obtain control over the local one'stop systems.

HR 1261 is expected to go to the House floor for a vote during the same week that the House considers the Bush Administration's economic stimulus package, most likely during the third week of May.

The Conference of Mayors is working with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to ensure that mayors' concerns are addressed in the Senate WIA reauthorization proposal, particularly areas that are problematic for mayors in HR 1261, including the youth provision. The U.S. Conference of Mayors has strong policy to maintain current law relating to youth, which mandates and strong in-school youth program including summer jobs and which mandates 30 percent of youth dollars be spent on out-of-school youth. HR 1261, reverses current law, allowing for up to 30 percent of youth dollars to be spent on in-school youth.