[Mwa] Mass Workforce Alliance ALERT: Help win $11 million for Workforce Development!

[Deborah Mutschler]

Hello again Mass Workforce Alliance Listserv:

We are nearing the final phase of this year's quest for additional funding for workforce development!

Here's what's happening.
Right now, the House (Economic Stimulus Bill -- H-4429) and the Senate (Commonwealth Investment Act S-2264) each have a version of a bill that contains money for workforce development. These bills are going to a Conference Committee to hammer out a compromise. 

The Conference Committee members are:
Representative Bosley,
Representative DeLeo ,
Representative Hill, 
Senator Hart,
Senator Panagiotakos, and 
Senator Tisei.

The compromise bill that comes out of the Conference Committee will get voted on by the House and Senate and then sent to Governor Romney for approval. If the Governor vetoes parts of the bill, more votes probably will be taken so the House/Senate can override his vetoes.

Right now, the House version of the bill has $11 million for a Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and the Senate version has language (see the very bottom of email if you are interested in a piece of specific language) that describes the fund without any money attached to it. Since a fund with no money in it will not be very useful, we prefer the House version. 

Key things to know about the trust fund is that:

* it's new money for workforce development.
* it's important because with it we can better fund or expand existing programming.
* it includes a focus on youth and older workers as well as traditional workers.


What to do.
If you live or work in the districts of the conference committee members (Bosley, DeLeo, Hill, Hart, Panagiotakos, and Tisei ) please call them and ask them to support the House version of the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund with $11 million. If you can add some information about how that new money will help in your district, it will help make your case.

If you live in other districts you can call your Senator or Representative to ask them to urge the Conference Committee members to support the House version of the Trust Fund with the $11 million. Again, any stories about how your service helps people and how new money could help you do more or better will make the issue come alive for your legislator.

There are a couple of easy ways you can reach your Senator or Representative:

* call the State House switchboard at 617-722-2000
* look up their direct lines to call or email them at www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm for the House, and www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm for the Senate.

To figure out which legislators are from your district you can quickly look it up at: www.wheredoivote.com

After you've called or emailed, please write us back to let us know what you did and any response that you got.


Other information about the bills:
*Both the House and Senate versions contain $3 million in additional funding for Adult Basic Education. Since they both have the same money, it would be very unusual for that to change in the final bill.
*Both the House and Senate versions create a Workforce Accountability Task Force that has several seats for community-based voices, including Mass Workforce Alliance, MCAE, and MACDC.



Thanks for your work!
Deborah
_______________________________________
DETAILS ON THE WORKFORCE COMPETITIVENESS TRUST FUND -- fund objectives include: 

(i) supporting the development and implementation of programs to enhance worker skills, incomes, productivity and retention; 
(ii) training and helping the unemployed find suitable employment; 
(iii) improving employment opportunities for low income individuals and low wage workers; 
(iv) improving wages to a level sufficient to support a family or place individuals on a career path leading to such employment and wages; 
(v) training vulnerable youth to master basic academic skills and encouraging students to advance educationally and receive post-secondary degrees at colleges or post-secondary vocational schools, or beyond; and 
(vi) training older workers for new occupations.



Deborah Mutschler
Executive Director
Massachusetts Workforce Alliance (MWA)
617-780-1770
deborah at massworkforcealliance.com
www.peer.mwapolicy.org
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