House Panel Discusses WIA Reauthorization

Yesterday, the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness held a hearing on reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which consolidates, coordinates, and improves employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs. This is the second in a series of hearings on WIA reauthorization, though no specific legislation is pending, and the committee has not scheduled any markups. Although no time table is currently set, committee staff have confirmed that no legislation will hit the floor until later this fall, if at all.


Witnesses at the hearing included:
• Beth Butler - disability and accommodations consultant, Wachovia Corp., Charlotte, NC;
• John Twomey - Executive Director, New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals, representing National Workforce Association;
• Mason A. Petit - Washington State Employment Security, representing American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, Spokane, WA;
• Charles Ware - Chairman, National Association of State Workforce Board Chairs , representing National Governors Association , Cheyenne, WY;
• Joe Carbone - Director, Workplace Inc., Bridgeport, CT; and
• Kathleen Randolph - President, Partners for Workforce Solutions Inc.
Discussion was relatively short, but focused on ways to increase services available at the One-Stop career centers. John Twomey made a point to mention that One-Stops are reducing duplication and increasing cost efficiency of the Federal workforce investment and partner programs. Twomey recommended that One-Stops be authorized in a separate, new title of WIA, to reinforce the fact that One-Stops are the primary infrastructure through which to access services in a comprehensive workforce investment system. As is the case in nearly every other reauthorization debate, all panelists agreed that additional funding for various WIA programs is necessary.
Although holding two WIA hearings in less than a month seems encouraging, reauthorization is still not a guarantee for this year. To date, the Senate has not moved forward with any preliminary hearings, and the House has only just begun consideration. Meanwhile, both chambers are engrossed in higher education reconciliation and reauthorization programs, twelve appropriation bills for fiscal year 2008 (FY08), and behind the scenes talks on reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Another barrier is the month-long August recess that begins in just over a week. When Congress comes back in September, both chambers will have less than a month t deal with all twelve appropriations bills for FY08. This packed schedule does not leave much time for working on the long overdue WIA reauthorization.