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Appropriations
On July 28, 2009 the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee has scheduled markup of the 2010 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Education and Health and Human Services.
On July 24, the House approved its Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill on a 264 to 153 vote. The discretionary spending measure provides $160.7 billion for FY 2010 Labor-HHS-Education, which is $52 million below the President’s request. The bill essentially level funds workforce programs and provides $135 million for a Career Pathways Innovation Fund, of which at least $65 million will support competitive grants to community colleges and partnerships with local adult education to train nurses, medical technicians and others for skilled jobs in the health industries; $100 million for YouthBuild; $45 million to prepare workers for careers in emerging “green” industries; $50 million for a new research-proven Transitional Jobs employment strategy to help hard-to-employ non-custodial parents and ex-offenders enter the workforce; and $615 million for community service jobs.
The bill also provides a $498 million increase in Pell Grant funding to maintain the appropriated base of $4,860, along with a mandatory add-on of $690 for a total maximum award funding level of $5,550 for FY2010. It also includes a $20 million increase for TRIO and a $20 million increase for GEAR UP programs.
The House passed an amendment to increase funding for the Careers Pathways Innovation Fund by $5 million, offset by a $5 million decrease to the funding for the Green Jobs Fund which was introduced by Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Chairman David Obey (WI). Ranking Member John Kline (MN) offered a Minority's Motion to Recommit, a procedural maneuver that provides the minority an opportunity to kill the majority's proposed bill and offer an alternative Labor-HHS package. This motion was defeated on a 171 to 248 vote.
On July 23, the Administration released a statement supporting the passage of the Labor-HHS Appropriations as passed by the House Appropriations Committee.
To view the statement released by the Administration click here:
http://usmayors.org/workforce/documents/2009-7-23SAPonHR3293.pdf
To access a side-by-side comparison chart of the Labor-HHS bill funding levels click here.
House Education and Labor Committee Passes Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
On July 21, 2009 the House Education and Labor Committee approved an amended version of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), H.R. 3221, by a vote of 30-17. The legislation would transition all student lending to the Federal Direct Lending Program by July 1, 2010. The $87 billion in savings from this transition would go towards expanding the Federal Perkins program, raising the maximum Pell Grant award and increasing investments to community colleges.
The legislation provides $9.5 billion for community colleges. The initiative is broken down into three programs:
- $2.5 billion provided in FY2011 for grants to community colleges to repair, renovate and modernize their facilities.
- $6.3 billion provided over ten years for the Community College Challenge Grant Program. The program will offer competitive grants geared towards community colleges during the first four years and targeted to states during the remaining six years.
- $700 million provided for competitive grants designated for national activities, including grants to develop free online courses and training.
The measure was reported to the House Budget Committee and the Full House, allowing for the bill to move as a stand alone measure or through budget reconciliation.
Click here for a copy of the SAFRA bill.
DOL Announces $250 Million in ARRA Funds for Worker Training in Health Care and Other Emerging Industries
On July 21, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) published a Notice of Availability of Funds and Solicitation for Grant Applications for Health Care and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries with $250 million in available funding.
This funding is part of the $750 million provided to the Department of Labor (DOL) for a program of competitive grants for worker training and placement in high growth and emerging industries under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
To access a copy of the DOL grant funding synopsis and links to the announcement and application, click here.
NCEE Merges with Jobs for the Future
The Workforce Development Strategies Group at NCEE is now the Workforce and Education Strategies Group at Jobs for the Future. The following formerly NCEE staffare now in the Jobs for the Future Washington Office:
Ray Uhalde, Director; John Colbert, Senior Counsel; Mary Clagett, Deputy Director for Policy; Robert Holm, Program Director, Economic and Workforce Development; Chinita Ray, Program Associate; Cassius Johnson, Director, National and Federal Policy; and Elizabeth Grant, Senior Policy Analyst. The contact information for the above individuals is their previous email (first initial last name) @jff.org.
INVITE YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO
VISIT YOUR ONE-STOPS
Members of Congress will soon be breaking for the August recess and this is the time to meet with them and get them into your One-Stop Centers! You should contact your congressional delegation’s district office immediately to schedule a visit as their summer recess schedule fills fast. It is critical for your Senators and Representatives to see first-hand the value of
the investment they have made on behalf of the local workforce system, particularly with regard to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Please keep us updated on your congressional delegation outreach during August recess by emailing mgrothus@usmayors.org.
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