RSS Feed Archive.

White House announces summer jobs initiative. 
January 6, 2012
On January 5, the White House announced a new “Summer Jobs+” initiative, which is intended to create up to 250,000 summer work experiences for disconnected youth at federal agencies and private employers this summer. 

"Extenders" fight shapes up for February.   
January 4, 2012
In one of their final moves before leaving for the holidays last month, Congress approved an “extenders” bill that temporarily reauthorized a range of federal policies and programs, including extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, the employee payroll tax holiday, and the TANF block grant to states. However, the bill only extends authorization through the end of February, setting up what is expected to be the next major showdown between the House and Senate.

Workforce innovation grants announced.
December 22, 2011
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) today announced the availability of $98.5 million in competitive grant funding under the newly created Workforce Innovation Fund (WIF), which may be used to support innovative projects that enhance the delivery of employment and training services or promote systems change within the public workforce system.

NSC releases analyses of HR 3610.
December 20, 2011
In December, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced legislation that would consolidate 33  federal employment and training programs into four new "Workforce Investment Funds." NSC prepared an analyses of the programs that would be condolidated, showing breakdowns for program funding that would be folded into each of the new Funds.

House releases FY 2012 omnibus approps bill.
December 15, 2011
On December 15, the House appropriations committee posted a version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 omnibus appropriation package that includes the nine remaining spending bills for this year, including the measure funding the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-H). As written, the bill proposes roughly $150 million in cuts to job training programs under the Department of Labor (DOL), while also including a set of permanent eligibility changes to the Pell Grant program for low- and moderate-income students.

Year-end bills may impact workforce.
December 12, 2011
Congress is expected to tackle several bills before the end of the year that could have a significant impact on federal workforce development programs, including an omnibus FY 2012 appropriations package that may dramatically cut funding and eligibility for job training and Pell Grants and an "extenders" bill that could reduce UI benefits for dislocated and low-skilled workers. 

House Calls for Elimination of Training Programs. 
December 8, 2011
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce today released two bills that would eliminate as many as 33 federal workforce development programs, while dramatically restructuring the composition of local workforce investment boards to limit the voice of community-based organizations, community colleges, and other key workforce system stakeholders.

Iowa summit puts spotlight on basic skills.
December 6, 2011
Last month, Iowa state policymakers and members from Iowa’s congressional delegation joined business, education, workforce, and other community leaders in Des Moines, Iowa to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing the state’s workforce—the growing basic skills deficit among adult workers.

Workforce outcomes still not a state data priority.
December 2, 2011
On December 2, the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) released its 2011 survey of states’ progress in using education data systems  to track student progress and employment across the P-20/W continuum.

Holzer calls for new competitive grant program.
December 1, 2011
In his new paper, Raising Job Quality and Skills for American Workers: Creating More-Effective Education and Workforce Development Systems in the States, NSC Board Member Harry Holzer calls for a new $2 billion federal competitive grant program that would reward states for adopting evidence-supported strategies that educate workers for jobs in firms that pay well within growing industries.

Southeast Michigan forms industry partnership.
November 21, 2011
With support from the New Economy Initiative, the Detroit metro region’s eight community colleges, seven workforce boards, and other economic development partners have come together to form the Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) of Southeast Michigan.

House rejects balanced budget amendment.
November 18, 2011
UPDATE 11/18: The House voted to reject a proposed balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, with the final tally of 261 yeas and 165 nays falling short of the two-thirds majority required for passage.

Miller, Blumenthal introduce job training bills.
November 16, 2011
Yesterday, Rep. George Miller (D-CA)—ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce—and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced legislation that would provide significant new investments in job training for unemployed and low-income workers and youth.  

NSC Leadership Council weighs in on FY 2012.
November 15, 2011
On November 8, National Skills Coalition joined with more than thirty other national organizations to send a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee, urging committee leaders to maintain workforce and education provisions included in their Fiscal Year 2012 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education bill and to reject House proposals that would decimate federal funding for job training and severely restrict eligibility for the Pell Grant program.  

NSC releases state-by-state WIA estimates.
November 14, 2011
National Skills Coalition today released a state-by-state analysis of House-proposed cuts to program under the Workforce Investment Act in Fiscal Year 2012, finding that as many as 6.5 million U.S. jobseekers would lose access to critical employment and training services under these programs if the House funding levels were enacted. 

NSC urges Senate to hold firm on workforce.
November 3, 2011
On November 3, National Skills Coalition sent a letter to key members of the Senate appropriations committee urging them to hold firm to workforce and education provisions included in their Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education bill, rejecting House proposals that would decimate federal funding for job training and severely restrict eligibility for the Pell Grant program. 

CT advocates call for training investments.
October 31, 2011
On October 25, the Connecticut state legislature passed a $626 million bipartisan jobs bill. Connecticut advocates, led by the Campaign for a Working Connecticut, used the debate around the jobs bill to advocate for additional investments in training and education as a much-needed complement to this large-scale job creation effort.

Minnesota Governor discusses skills gap.
October 28, 2011
On October 25, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton hosted a statewide Jobs Summit covering a range of issues including economic growth, competitiveness, job creation, and strategies for closing the state's skills gap. 

NSC, Georgetown release new policy brief.
October 25, 2011
National Skills Coalition and Georgetown University’s Center on Poverty, Inequality, and Public Policy release new joint policy brief examining recent innovations in state workforce policy and the implications for their continuation in the current changing political, economic and budgetary environment. 

S2C-Colorado launches, releases report.
October 24, 2011
Skills2Compete-Colorado launched today with the release of Colorado’s Forgotten Middle-Skill Jobs. The study, written by National Skills Coalition in partnership with SkillBuild Colorado and released today at the Colorado Community College Summit, projects close to 300,000 "middle-skill" job openings for Colorado by 2019.

Lugar bill threatens SNAP E&T.
October 20, 2011
Earlier this month, Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) introduced legislation that would eliminate funding for a critical job training program aimed at recipients of federal nutrition assistance benefits. NSC has prepared a fact sheet illustrating the importance of the SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) program for low-income workers.

House passes TAA extension.
October 13, 2011
The House voted yesterday to approve an extension of the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program through 2013, following Senate approval of the bill late last month. The passage of the measure – in conjunction with a set of long-stalled free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama – ends months of uncertainty about the fate of this critical workforce program.  

Maryland hosts career pathways summit.
October 7, 2011
On September 23, the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning hosted the first ever Maryland Career Pathways Summit to mark the beginning of the state’s implementation of a new career pathways framework for addressing the needs of low-skilled workers 

H-1B grants announced; new funds available.
October 6, 2011
On Tuesday, the Department of Labor announced nearly $160 million in awards under the first round of the H-1B Technical Skills Training grant program, and updated funding information for the second round of applications due in November. 

House releases FY 2012 Labor-HHS draft.
October 3, 2011
Last Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee released a draft bill providing Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS). The proposed bill would make devastating cuts to federal workforce and education programs—including more than $2 billion in cuts to programs under the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. 

Congress passes TANF extension.
September 29, 2011
Last week, Congress passed a short-term extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which was set to expire on September 30th. The bill provides funding to support the basic state block grant at current levels through December 31, 2011. 

TAA community college grants awarded.
September 26, 2011
Earlier today, the Obama administration announced nearly $500 million in capacity-building grants to community colleges and consortia of community colleges to support job training and education aimed at dislocated workers.

Senate Approps approves FY'12 Labor-H bill.
September 23, 2011
UPDATED - Yesterday, the Senate appropriations committee approved its FY 2012 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-H). The measure includes approximately $300 million in spending cuts compared to FY 2011 enacted levels—consistent with discretionary spending caps included in last month’s Budget Control Act—but largely maintains current funding levels for key workforce and education programs.

Ohio allies testify before State House Committee.
September 22, 2011
Bobbie Garber , NSC Leadership Council Member and convener of the Ohio Workforce Coalition, recently testified before the Ohio House of Representatives Study Committee on Workforce Development on the policies state lawmakers must adopt to meet the growing skill needs of employers and demand for skills training among Ohioans. 

Regional innovation grants announced.
September 22, 2011
Earlier today, the Obama administration announced awards under the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, a $37 million multiagency initiative to support job training and other activities related to regional industry clusters.

NSC report examines MD credential counting.
September 21, 2011
NSC's new report, Beyond Degrees, explores how Maryland went beyond traditional data and policy approaches through their Skills2Compete initiative to build a more integrated, training-focused, labor-market driven and accountable workforce and education system.

NSC releases jobs act summary.
September 19, 2011
On September 8, President Obama announced the American Jobs Act of 2011, a $447 billion proposal designed to address the nation’s unemployment challenges, including through significant new funding for job training and employment programs. National Skills Coalition has prepared a summary of key workforce provisions under the proposed legislation.

Senate to take up TAA bill next week.
September 16, 2011
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced today that the Senate would take up legislation to reauthorize an expanded version of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program next week, with a procedural vote scheduled for as early as Monday.

House approps releases FY 2012 CR.
September 16, 2011
With Fiscal Year 2012 set to start on October 1, the House appropriations committee on Wednesday released a short-term continuing resolution (CR) which would fund federal government operations through November 18.

American Jobs Act includes training investments.
September 9, 2011
Last night, President Obama outlined the “American Jobs Act,” a $447 billion job creation proposal that includes a number of proven workforce development strategies, such as sector-based training partnerships and increased attainment of industry-recognized credentials.

Business leaders urge WIA reauthorization.
September 8, 2011
A group of more than 80 local Chambers of Commerce and other business associations are urging key lawmakers to continue their efforts to strengthen and modernize the nation’s workforce investment system.

President to announce jobs proposal.
September 2, 2011
President Obama has requested a joint session of Congress on Thursday, September 8 at 8:00 pm ET to announce his much anticipated job creation proposal to boost employment and the economy. Look for NSC’s reaction to the President’s plan following Thursday's speech. 

Support training, other human services in FY'12.
August 31, 2011
National Skills Coalition has joined with nearly 300 other organizations on a letter urging congressional appropriators to prioritize funding for health, education, job training, social services, and children’s programs under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bills. 

Workforce groups support TAA funding.
August 30, 2011
Today, National Skills Coalition joined with 30 other national organizations to send a letter to congressional leaders, urging them to ensure that any legislation reauthorizing the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program includes meaningful investments in training for trade-impacted workers.

Another successful Workforce Week of Action.
August 25, 2011
Last week, as part of National Workforce Week of Action, members of the business community, labor, education and training programs, and the public sector came together across the nation to stand up for investments in America’s workers and industries. Read more about some of the week's highlights 

NSC releases report, presents at SGA meeting.
August 22, 2011
On August 21, NSC State Policy Director Eric Seleznow led a panel discussion on Closing the South's Middle-Skill Gap at the Southern Governors' Association (SGA) 2011 Annual Meeting. The session highlighted data presented in Driving Innovation from the Middle: Middle-Skill Jobs in the American South's Economy, a report prepared by the NSC for SGA that examines the role of middle-skill jobs in the American South’s economy. 

JEC report highlights workforce training.
August 12, 2011
On August 4, the congressional Joint Economic Committee released a report highlighting the importance of effective job training programs in reducing unemployment and supporting the nation’s economic recovery efforts

Senate leaders announce TAA deal.
August 4, 2011
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced yesterday that they had reached an agreement to advance legislation reauthorizing the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program when the Senate returns in September.

Pell caught in debt ceiling fight.
July 29, 2011
House Republicans are struggling to find enough votes to pass the debt ceiling/deficit reduction bill put together by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), and media reports are suggesting that Pell Grant funding included the bill is part of the problem. 

WIA markup postponed, no new date set.
July 27, 2011
Update: the Senate HELP committee has "renoticed" their August 3 executive session, removing the draft WIA reauthorization bill from the agenda. No new date has been set for markup.

Under S2C, MD increases apprenticeship rates.
July 25, 2011
As part of Governor Martin O’Malley’s credential measurement effort under the Skills2Compete-Maryland initiative—a statewide effort to expand skills training by 20 percent by 2012—the Apprenticeship Maryland Program announced  a 28 percent increase in the graduation of apprentices.

NSC to co-sponsor track at NCLR forum.
July 19, 2011
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and National Skills Coalition are partnering to provide a track on “Local, State, and Federal Policy Solutions” as part of NCLR’s Workforce Development Forum in Chicago on October 11-12, 2011. 

Pell funding, accessibility threatened.
July 15, 2011
The federal Pell Grant program has seen significant growth in recent years due to increased demand and policy changes that make the program more accessible for low-income students. But rising costs are leading some policymakers to call for funding cuts and eligibility changes.  

Ohio budget includes investments in workers.
July 14, 2011
Earlier this month, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed Ohio’s Biennial Budget into law, which included $50 million in funding over the next two years for a new incumbent worker program—the Ohio Workforce Job Training program

Senate committee considers TAA reauthorization.
July 11, 2011
UPDATED 7/15 - White House announces that free trade agreement with TAA reauthorization could be submitted to Congress prior to August recess.

PA advocates achieve major workforce victory.
July 8, 2011
The Pennsylvania Fund for Workforce Solutions, Keystone Research Center, PathWays PA, PA Partners and other workforce leaders from across the state achieved a major win when Pennsylvania lawmakers voted to permanently establish the Industry Partnerships program as part of the state’s workforce development strategy.

DeLauro, Reed introduce worksharing bills.
July 7, 2011
On July 6, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced legislation, the Layoff Prevention Act of 2011, which is intended to support the development and expansion of state worksharing programs.  

NSC, Georgetown convene policy roundtable.
July 7, 2011
On June 21, Georgetown University’s Center on Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy and National Skills Coalition jointly convened a Roundtable discussion on State Workforce Policy: The Future of Policy Innovation in a Changing Environment.

“Skills” stay in Iowa’s FY 2012 budget.
July 6, 2011
Iowa community colleges and workforce stakeholders scored a huge victory last week when they secured appropriations—totaling $10 million—for community college bridge programs and a new tuition-assistance program in the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Iowa State Budget.

TAA reauthorization markup rescheduled.
July 6, 2011
The Senate Finance Committee announced today that it will hold a “mock” markup tomorrow on a package of free trade agreements that includes a reauthorization of the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. The markup was originally scheduled to take place on June 30, but committee Republicans refused to attend the hearing, thus preventing the quorum necessary for the committee to consider the measures.

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