Archives for Workforce & Government

Senate Rejects Repeal of Affordable Care Act

July 28, 2017 | No Comments

Reprint from CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy), a national, nonpartisan, anti-poverty organization advancing policy solutions that work for low-income people. Today, as we mark Medicaid’s 52nd birthday, we also celebrate the defeat of deeply disturbing proposals to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and tear health coverage away from tens of millions of Americans. CLASP is delighted to join others in breathing a sigh of relief that Medicaid and the ACA will continue to provide health insurance for children, families, young adults, people with disabilities, senior citizens, low-wage workers, and so many others. Thank you to everyone who
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What’s at Stake for Low-Income People in Federal Budget, Health Care Bills?

July 14, 2017 | No Comments

Reprint of July 13, 2017 CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy) Article A U.S. House subcommittee is voting today on a bill that would slash federal funding for programs that support the economic security of children, families, and individuals of modest means. CLASP has issued a statement with our reactions to why this bill is yet another assault by Congressional leaders and the president on crucial supports for American communities. In addition, the U.S. Senate today released a new health care bill that, like previous bills from both the House and Senate, would leave millions without insurance and end
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Trump Order Weakens Apprenticeship System, Continues to Slash Funding for Workforce Training

June 20, 2017 | No Comments

June 19, 2017 – Reprint from CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy), a national, nonpartisan, anti-poverty organization advancing policy solutions that work for low-income people. On June 15, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) meant to “expand apprenticeships in America.” Under the current system, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and state apprenticeship agencies register all apprenticeship programs. However, this EO proposes to decentralize the registration of apprenticeships to enable third parties—including a variety of corporate, nonprofit, trade groups, or other entities—to independently register or recognize apprenticeships. The implementation of this EO is likely to expand
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This is Workforce Development

June 16, 2017 | No Comments

Reprint of June 15, 2017 San Diego Workforce Partnership* CEO Message The idea of “workforce development week” by the Trump administration sounds promising…on the surface. However, the President’s proposed budget plan includes a 40% cut in funding. That is not a typo. This is not a cut. This is absurd. This is an evisceration of a system that works. Funding for workforce development has already been reduced by $1 billion since 2010. Cutting further is counterintuitive and would be devastating to millions of job seekers around the country. Many of those impacted would be our most vulnerable, at-risk and underrepresented. The
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Year Three HPOG Report Highlights Success of Career Pathway Model

August 22, 2014 | No Comments

According to the non-for-profit organization, LINCS (Long Island Network of Community Services), “a career pathway approach reorients existing education and workforce services from a myriad of disconnected programs to a coordinated structure that focuses on the individuals in need of education and training and corresponding career paths. This approach also provides clear transitions, strong supports, and other elements critical to the success of participants. It is not simply a new model; it is a new way of doing business—for education and training institutions, employers, students, community organizations, agency staff, and policymakers.” LINCS has reported that in the Summer of 2013,
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Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Becomes Law

July 23, 2014 | No Comments

Yesterday, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), enacted by a large bi-partisan Congressional majority. Following 11 long years of debate over reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, we still have to wait another year for WIOA to be implemented—in July 2015. During this time, the US Departments of Labor and Education will develop guidance and regulations for State, Regional, and local Workforce Investment Boards on WIOA implementation. According to CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy), “At a time of sustained unemployment in many communities, the programs in WIOA are designed to help
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Congress Passes Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

July 10, 2014 | No Comments

Yesterday, Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which continues the critical work of its predecessor, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. The Senate passed WIOA on June 25, 2014, with a vote of 95-3, and now that the House has passed it 415-6, WIOA is headed to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law, reauthorizing WIA for 6 more years. Peter Callstrom, CEO, San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP), KRA Corporation client for the operation of the San Diego Metro Region One-Stop Career Centers—part of the American Job Center of California network—stated in a press release, “Passage
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Job-Driven Training Initiatives and the Opportunity for All

May 7, 2014 | No Comments

The Department of Labor (DOL) has been in lockstep with the current administration in trying to make good on President Obama’s promise of Opportunity for All. There has been a lot of emphasis placed on the President’s second step of “training more Americans with the skills to fill new jobs” with job-driven training initiatives receiving increased Federal aid. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) initiative was one such program. Intended to develop a steady stream of trained and career-ready workers for high-demand jobs that exist in their communities, it recently received the final $450 million installment
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Administration Focuses on Job-driven Training, Apprenticeships in Workforce Development

April 30, 2014 | No Comments

In a continuing effort to match and develop the skills of workers to employers’ needs to help catalyze employment, the fourth and final round of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant program, as well as $100million for competitive grants in the American Apprenticeship Initiative, was recently announced by President Obama. Since 2011, the TAACCCT program has been tasked with strengthening the connection between community colleges, employers, and the workforce development system to develop a steady stream of trained and career-ready workers for high-demand jobs that exist in their communities. This last round of funding is
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Grants to Develop Long-term U.S. Workforce through Education and Skills Acquisition

April 25, 2014 | No Comments

Since President Obama issued his call-to-action at the beginning of the year, the efforts of the current administration regarding workforce development have remained consistently strong particularly with regard to the at-risk youth and veteran populations—two groups that KRA Corporation feels are most in need of assistance. In addressing the needs of one of those groups, America’s youth, the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education created the Youth CareerConnect grant dedicated to developing educational methods that better prepare U.S. students for the rigors of a competitive workplace. Youth CareerConnect awards in the amount of $107 million were recently announced in an attempt to better
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