|
Congress to Vote on Conference Report for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1)
A conference agreement of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1) was reached Thursday, February 12th. It is scheduled for a vote in the House today, February 13th. Leaders in the Senate plan to vote on the bill later tonight. Democrats expect the bill to clear in both sides of Congress, particularly with the help of three moderate Republican Senators reaching the 60 votes necessary to block a filibuster. Supporters of the legislation hope to have the bill signed by President Obama on Monday, February 16th.
Democratic leaders circulated a Conference Report outlining spending in the $790 billion stimulus bill February 12th (See links below). According to the Conference Report, the stimulus bill includes $3.95 billion for job training including formula grants for adult training ($500 million), dislocated worker training ($1.25 billion), youth services that include funding for Summer Jobs ($1.2 billion), and competitive grants for high needs industries ($750 million) such as energy efficiency and renewable energy as described in section 171(e)(1)(B) of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
Click here to view the latest updated comparison chart of the House bill, Senate bill and Final Conference Agreement funding for workforce investment spending.
Click here to view an overview of the Conference Report for H.R. 1.
To view Division A – Appropriations Provisions of the Conference Report: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/Recovery_Bill_Div_A.pdf
Note: See Title VIII featuring the Department of Labor
To view Division B – Tax, Unemployment, Health, State Fiscal Relief, and Other Provisions of the Conference Report: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/Recovery_Bill_Div_B.pdf
Note: See Title I featuring TAA provisions and Title II – Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families
TAA Program Expansions in Conference Report
The Conference Report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1) significantly expands current Trade Adjustment Assistance Programs. Among other things, it extends TAA to trade-affected services sector workers and workers affected by offshoring or outsourcing to all countries, including China or India. It increases training funds available to states by 160 percent to $575 million per fiscal year; creates a new TAA program for trade-affected communities; allows for automatic TAA eligibility for workers suffering from import surges and unfair trade; makes training, healthcare and reemployment TAA benefits more accessible and flexible; and improves the TAA for Firms and TAA for Farmers programs. It reauthorizes all TAA programs (which expired December 31, 2007) through December 31, 2010. This proposal is estimated to cost $1.6 billion.
Solis’ Nomination to be Delayed Until After Senate Recess
The confirmation vote for Congresswoman Hilda Solis (CA) for Secretary of Labor was pushed back until after the Congressional Recess next week. An approval of Solis’ nomination by voice vote was reached in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on February 11th, causing the Committee Democrats to anticipate securing a confirmation this week. Delays arose after reports surfaced that Solis’ husband had $6,400 in outstanding tax liens against his Los Angeles-area auto repair business to settle.
No official hold has been placed on the vote and Solis is expected to be confirmed shortly after the upcoming recess. Nevertheless, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) sent a letter to Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) outlining eight requirements which must be met by all candidates nominated to secure Senate approval. While the letter did not directly refer to Solis’ nomination, it addressed a number of issues which reflect complaints made by Republicans during the Congresswoman’s nomination process, including timely submission of tax documents and questionnaires.
|
