July 27, 2007
On July 26, 2007, the House Education and Labor Committee’s Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness held its second hearing on the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The hearing was titled “Workforce Investment Act: Ideas to Improve the Workforce Development System.” Witnesses included a mix of individuals representing state agencies, local programs and workforce interests.
In his opening statement, Committee Chairman Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) noted the importance of replacing departing highly skilled workers, the need to increase the capacity of the vocational rehabilitation and other services, and a desire to increase investment to address the disparity between different student populations. Panelists provided a variety of recommendations, including reducing the size of Workforce Investment Boards, giving more control to states for coordination of services, and providing more customer-focused attention to services. Panelists urged the Committee to soon reauthorize WIA, which has been debated for the past five years.
A complete list of witnesses, their testimony, and an archived Webcast of the hearing are available on the Education and Labor Committee’s Web site.
July 11, 2007
On June 28, 2007, the House Education and Labor Committee’s Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness held its first 2007 hearing on the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Neither the House or Senate have introduced bills to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act, so this hearing was just the first step in what looks to be a long process.
The hearing was titled, “Workforce Investment Act: Recommendations to Improve the Effectiveness of Job Training.” Witnesses from the Government Accountability Office; the Workforce Alliance; the Center for Law and Social Policy; the National Institute for Literacy; the Arlington, Texas, Chamber of Commerce; and the Workforce Investment Board in Jacksonville, Florida, all testified on various aspects of the current workforce investment system and improvements that were needed.
Key themes included the need for more resources to be directed to training, and the critical nature of employer and industry involvement. A full Webcast of the hearing and transcripts of witness testimony can be accessed on the Education and Labor Committee's Web site.
In absence of WIA reauthorization legislation, the House Education and Labor Committee has moved forward on one new piece of legislation. H.R. 2847, the Green Jobs Act of 2007, was approved by the Committee on June 27. The bill was sponsored by Reps. Hilda Solis (D-CA) and John Tierney (D-MA).
According to the Committee, it would authorize, “up to $125 million in funding to establish national and state job training programs, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, to help address job shortages that are impairing growth in green industries, such as energy efficient buildings and construction, renewable electric power, energy efficient vehicles, and biofuels development...Funding for these programs could be used to pay for the occupational training itself, as well for support services for workers while they are in the training, like child care. Priority for these training programs would be given to veterans, displaced workers, and at-risk young people.” At this time there is no companion Senate legislation, and a date for floor debate in the House has not been set.
2005-2006 Detailed Archives
