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| Washington Update |
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Appropriations
On Wednesday, July 9, House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (WI) said he has no plans to consider the remaining FY09 appropriations bills, including Labor-HHS-Education. Obey’s statement that there will be no more markups from his panel supports the notion that Democratic leaders plan to pass a continuing resolution just prior to the October recess and not return after the November elections.
Despite signs that Democratic leaders are resigned to a continuing resolution, Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd (WV) urged Senate leaders to schedule votes for the 12 annual spending bills. The panel has approved six of the twelve appropriations bill, including the Labor-HHS measure passed last month. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) said Thursday, July 10, that the Senate could finish work on two of the 12 appropriations bills before Congress passes a continuing resolution to fund the federal government until a new President and Congress take over next year. Nevertheless, Byrd and Appropriations Ranking Member Thad Cochran intend to complete Committee consideration of the FY09 bills by the end of the month.
Second Supplemental
With the appropriations process stalled, lawmakers are looking at a second supplemental spending or stimulus bill as a vehicle for immediate spending needs. Proposals include funding to combat wildfires in California, food stamp provisions, funding for a low-income energy assistance program, and continuing aid for Gulf Coast hurricane recovery. Democratic leaders are also considering infrastructure funding as a way to generate jobs and stimulate the economy. Senator Byrd announced Thursday that his Committee will markup a second supplemental spending bill July 22. House leaders are also interested in moving a second stimulus bill soon, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) suggesting $50 billion as a minimum total for a second stimulus package to address a continuingly distressed economy. House leaders could move the second stimulus as early as later this month.
Higher Education Act Reauthorization Delayed
We have reported for months that negotiators were near completion of the first long-term, comprehensive renewal of the Higher Education Act (PL 105-244) in a decade, but two provisions in the House version of the bill (HR 4137) have led to a delay in completion of an agreement. The unexpected illness and absence of the bill’s lead sponsor, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (MA) have also complicated the process.
Senator Kennedy transferred negotiating responsibilities to Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD) in May, and she said before the July 4th recess that she and House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (CA) hoped to reach a final deal shortly after lawmakers returned from recess. Nevertheless, there has been no new movement. The largest impediment is a “maintenance of effort” provision in the House version of the bill that penalizes states financially if they reduce their financial contributions to higher education. A second issue is a House provision that expands an aid program for historically African-American colleges and universities to increase the number of students pursuing Ph.D.s. to include those pursuing a master’s degree.
The seventh extension of the existing law, which authorizes programs under the law through July 31, was signed by President Bush on June 30.
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New From DOL-ETA
Workforce
Innovations 2008
Mark your calendar for Workforce
Innovations 2008: Success
Decoded to be held July 15 – 17,
in New Orleans, LA, at the Ernest N. Morial
Convention Center. Co-hosted by the U.S. Department
of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration
and the American Society for Training and Development,
Workforce Innovations 2008
is the premier annual conference promoting collaborative
leadership among workforce development, business,
economic development, education, faith-based
and community organizations, and philanthropy.
Conference information is available at
www.WorkforceInnovations.org.
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| Upcoming Meetings
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!
WDC 20TH ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL FORUM
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
WDC Board Meeting
Monday, September 22, 2008
You are cordially invited to participate in the 20th Annual Congressional Forum of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council (WDC) on Tuesday, September 23, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the St. Gregory Hotel & Suites, 2033 M Street, NW in Washington, DC 20036. Click here for a preliminary draft agenda.
Prior to the Congressional Forum, the WDC Board meeting, as well as a peer-to-peer best practices exchange on a variety of topics, will be held on Monday, September 22 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Please share this invitation with your colleagues you think would be interested in participating in a national networking opportunity in Washington, DC. Click here for a description of the Congressional Forum for you to disseminate.
You may now register online at http://usmayors.org/2008CongressionalForum.
If you prefer, you may complete the registration form manually, to access the registration and hotel reservation forms click here and fax it to our meeting department at (202) 467-4276.
Room reservations must be made by calling the hotel directly. Please identify yourself as an attendee of The U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting to ensure the group rate. The deadline for hotel discount rate is August 20, 2008.
USCM/NWA Pre-Conference Session for 2008
The WDC is planning on conducting another session at the NWA Conference in Tampa, FL in November 2008. We have made arrangements to provide rooms at the main hotel, The Waterside Marriott hotel in Tampa from November 29 to Dec 2, 2008. Please register as soon as possible as rooms are going fast and we may not be able to guarantee you the conference rate of $149.00. You can visit the NWA website at http://www.nwaonline.org/Events.asp or call the hotel at 813-221-4900.
Please be advised that as a Workforce Development Council member, you are eligible for a special conference rate. Please enter the Special Code: "NWA" when registering.
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