More than a decade ago, Congress established a new workforce investment system to provide individuals with the skills and training necessary to succeed in the workplace. Regrettably, the system has since corroded, shifting from a helpful network of employment support to the confusing maze of bureaucracy and redundant programs detailed in the Wall Street Journal editorial below. While President Ob... Read more »
According to the most recent information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 12.6 million Americans are searching for work, yet 3.5 million jobs remain unfilled. The math doesn’t add up. A closer look at the nation’s workforce reveals an underlying problem: Employers have job openings, but they cannot find enough skilled workers. News reports confirm this phenomenon. In Pennsylvania, the skills g... Read more »
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 »
After delivering speeches at the University of North Carolina and the University of Colorado yesterday, President Obama heads to the University of Iowa today to rally the youth vote and promote his proposal to enact a one-year freeze on Stafford Loan interest rates. Missing from the speeches and politicking is the fact that the president’s disastrous economic policies have left 1 out of every 2 co... Read more »
House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Chairman Phil Roe (R-TN) this week joined Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Michael B. Enzi (R-WY) and Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety Ranking Member Johnny Isakson (R-GA) in filing an amicus brief chall... Read more »
This week, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce examined the Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012 (H.R. 4297), important job training reform legislation introduced by Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Buck McKeon (R-CA), and Joe Heck (R-NV). As Chairman John Kline (R-MN) noted, the bill will create a “more dynamic, effective, and accountable workforce development system.” In the vi... Read more »
President Obama is in Ohio today to “highlight his Administration’s job training initiatives.” No doubt the people of the Buckeye State will be asking: Just what is the president promoting this time? There are a number of “initiatives” to choose from: Initiative A: The 2011 so-called American Jobs Act plan, which demands two more programs and $9 billion in new spending be added to the more than 47... Read more »
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), today held a hearing on the Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012 (H.R. 4297). The legislation would strengthen job training and employment services for workers and employers. During his opening remarks, Chairman Kline said, “The Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012 embodies the smart, responsible... 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 »
On Wednesday, April 18th, at 10:00 a.m., the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, chaired by Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN), will hold a hearing entitled, “Reviewing the Impact of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ Regulatory and Enforcement Actions.” The hearing will take place in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance ... Read more »