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Dear Friends,
On February 19, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution (CR) that cuts nearly $3.8 billion in federal funding for job training and placement programs.
Current federal funding for these programs expires on March 4, 2011, and without the passage of a continuing resolution by both the House and Senate, many programs will immediately close for the remainder of the FY2011 federal fiscal year.
We urge you to call Massachusetts' two Senators in their district offices this week, as the Senate will consider the CR when they return from recess on February 28.
Here's what's at stake in Massachusetts if the House cuts stand, or if the Senate and House cannot agree on a CR by March 4:
- Immediate closing of most career centers across the Commonwealth
- Cessation of all Workforce Investment Act-funded training programs and vouchers
- Cessation of many adult education, GED. career exploration and youth employment programs, which are supported by the Workforce Investment Act
Federally-funded Youthbuild, green jobs programs, ex-offender re-entry programs, and dislocated worker programs would also be eliminated. The House cuts also reduce the maximum eligible Pell Grant from the current $5,550 to $4,705.
Please call Senators Scott Brown and John Kerry today and urge them to oppose the nearly $3.8 billion in workforce cuts under the CR. If these cuts are allowed to stand it would effectively destroy the public workforce system that provides critical services for businesses and individuals in the Commonwealth.
If you have an example to add from your own or your business's experience with workforce services, please include it in your message.
- Senator Brown: 617-565-3170
- Senator Kerry: 617-565-8519
Thank you for all you do.
Sincerely,
Loh-Sze Leung
Director, SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive Workforce
Sue Parsons
Director, Workforce Solutions Group
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