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Continuing Resolution and Economic Stimulus Contents Remain Unclear
House Democrats had hoped to take an economic stimulus package to the Rules Committee on Thursday, September 18, and debate the measure on the floor today, but House Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey (WI) is still working on details of the package with Senate leadership. With the House scheduled to adjourn on September 26, and Republicans and the White House strongly opposed to a second stimulus measure, it has little chance of passage at this juncture.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) has said that elements of the second stimulus package she announced on September 10 could be added to a continuing resolution (CR), the appropriations measure that Congress must pass before the end of the month to keep the government funded.
On Wednesday, September 10, 2008, Pelosi had announced her follow-up to the stimulus measure (PL 110-185) enacted in February. Democrats want to pass legislation to provide up to $50 billion in funding for infrastructure projects, a low-income energy and aid program, food stamps and Medicaid funding for states, as well as an unemployment insurance extension. The unemployment extension would provide seven additional weeks of benefits to jobless Americans who have exhausted their benefits, and those in states with a high unemployment rate (6% or more) would be eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits.
On Thursday, September 11, 2008, Pelosi had also announced that she is looking at a stopgap funding bill or the stimulus package to provide $25 billion in loan guarantees to help struggling automakers. Supporters of the loan program want to see it included in the CR because of the desire for it to be passed before the end of the fiscal year.
For now, Democratic leaders continue to search for the right combination of individual elements to include either in a CR or an economic stimulus measure. Republicans have indicated they are open to including some of the items from the stimulus package in the CR. The CR could be completed in time for a vote as early as Tuesday, September 23.
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Upcoming Meetings
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WDC 20TH ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL FORUM
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
WDC Board Meeting/Peer-to-Peer Best Practices Session
Monday, September 22, 2008
Click here to access the final agenda for the WDC Board meeting and the Congressional Forum. For those planning to attend, see you all in DC!
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Reports, Announcements, and Articles
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Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success
(SECTORS) Act 2008
Senators Brown and Snowe recently introduced a bill (S. 3368) that would authorize new sector partnership grants under WIA. It would amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and establish a new Industry or Sector Partnership Grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Grants are intended to allow recipients to establish or expand industry or sector partnerships that lead collaborative planning, resource alignment, and training efforts across multiple firms for current and potential workers within the targeted industry cluster.
Eligible entities may apply for a one year planning grant of up to $250,000 and a three year implementation grant of up to $2.5 million. Eligible entities receiving an implementation grant may apply for a $1.5 million renewal grant for an additional three years if certain conditions are met. Eligible entities must leverage increasing amounts of non-federal funding each year they receive federal funding.
Priority in awarding grants will be given to eligible entities that work with high road employers, help workers move toward economic self-sufficiency, address the needs of firms with limited human resources or training capacity (including small- and medium-sized firms), and coordinate with State and local entities engaged in workforce investment, economic development, and educational activities.
Prospective grantees are required to identify targeted industry clusters using a number of criteria, including the competitiveness of the industry cluster, importance of the cluster to the economic development of the area or region being served, demonstrated demand for skilled workers and the availability of jobs and career opportunities leading to economic self-sufficiency for current and potential workers.
Grantees must commit to carrying out a range of strategic activities, including identifying and aggregating the training needs of multiple employers, helping postsecondary educational institutions and other training providers align curricula and programs to meet industry demand, and improving job quality through improving wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers.
Currently, endorsements are being collected for the bill. If interested, contact Federal Policy Director Rachel Gragg of the Workforce Alliance at 202-223-8891 (ext 102) or rachelg@workforcealliance.org.
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ETA Releases
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