In his Fiscal Year 2013 budget, President Obama requests $932 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, one of the largest allocations for any federal agency. Nearly $70 billion of this request is dedicated to various social services programs, including Head Start and Community Services Block Grants. While they support families nationwide, such programs are also vulnerable to waste ... Read more »
Roughly one out of every five workers is currently employed by a federal contractor, providing services ranging from construction and IT management to the acquisition of office supplies. Drawing from the experience and expertise of the private-sector workforce helps ensure federal projects are carried out more efficiently and at the most competitive price for taxpayers. Like all employers, federal... Read more »
Today, we will examine H.R. 4297, the Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012. The legislation will provide a more dynamic, effective, and accountable workforce development system. I would like to thank our witnesses for being with us. I also want to extend my appreciation to Representatives Virginia Foxx, Buck McKeon, and Joe Heck for their continued leadership on this important issue. The c... Read more »
Welcome back, Secretary Duncan, to the Education and the Workforce Committee. We realize your time is valuable and we appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today about the president’s budget proposal. When we met this time last year, we discussed the importance of using taxpayer dollars wisely, particularly in these times of economic instability. We identified areas of education spending th... Read more »
On April 5, 2010, the people of Montcoal, West Virginia suffered a tragic loss. Around three o’clock in the afternoon, workers completing their shift at the Upper Big Branch mine felt a strong blast of wind hit their backs. It was a chilling warning that a violent explosion was tearing through the mine, one that would kill 29 miners and severely injure two more. As a nation, we continue to mourn t... Read more »
Good morning, Secretary Solis. Thank you for being with us today to discuss the policies and priorities of the Department of Labor. On February 13, President Obama released his fourth budget proposal since taking office. The Associated Press reported the fiscal year 2013 budget blueprint “[takes] a pass on reining in government growth” and “reprises a long roster of prior proposals,” such as more ... Read more »
Today, we will examine the Department of Labor’s effort to narrow the long-standing companionship services exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act. As we all know, the FLSA continues to serve as the foundation of federal wage and hour standards. Today’s discussion is not about whether we stand by this important law more than 70 years after its enactment. The question before the subcommittee i... Read more »
As we begin the markup of the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act, I’d like to take a moment to briefly describe the changes made in the substitute. The Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act provides states with the tools to support private entities engaged in activities that promote innovation and reform outside the traditional public school system and typical school day... Read more »
Today’s debate on the Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act affords us a valuable opportunity to discuss challenges facing our higher education system. There’s no denying the cost of college is skyrocketing. Last year, tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities increased 8.3 percent, even as inflation rose only by approximately three percent. In recent months, stu... Read more »
The amendment in the nature of a substitute for the Student Success Act makes a number of technical clarifications, but it also includes an important change that I’d like to highlight for the committee. In reviewing feedback from members and education stakeholders, we have noticed a shared desire to provide important academic services and choice opportunities for students. We agree parents should ... Read more »
