Tag Archives: Workforce Investment Act

House passes the Workforce Investment Act

Posted on March 19, 2013 by | 1 Comment

On March 15, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 803, the Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act which would reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

The ALA Washington Office has been working with Members on both sides of the aisle on this legislation and is encouraged that H.R. 803 would help to ensure greater participation of libraries in our nation’s workforce investment system.  In particular, H.R. 803 includes provisions that:

  • Ensure the state workforce investment plan includes a description      of the actions that will be taken by the state to foster communication,      coordination, and partnerships with non-profit organizations – including      public libraries (under section 112(b));
  • Ensure the local state workforce investment plan includes a      description of the strategies and services that will be used in the local      area to better coordinate workforce development programs with employment,      training, and literacy services carried out by non-profit organizations –      including libraries (under section 118(b)); and
  • Authorize public libraries that carry out employment, training, and      literacy services as additional one-stop partners so they can better      assist with workforce development activities (under section 121(b)(2)(B)).

In addition, the ALA Washington Office would like to think Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) on his efforts to make sure that libraries were included in H.R. 803.

Next, this legislation will move on to the U.S. Senate where it will have a monumental task at getting passed.  However, we are beginning to reach out to the Senate to help ensure that their version of WIA reauthorization legislation also includes provisions that would encourage greater participation of libraries in the workforce development system.

About Jeffrey Kratz

Jeffrey Kratz is the Assistant Director of ALA Washington Office's Office of Government Relations (OGR).

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Posted in OGR, Public Libraries

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WILL Act Reintroduced in House

Posted on January 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Last week, Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) reintroduced H.R. 113, the Workforce Investment through Local Libraries (WILL) Act for the new 113th Congress.  This legislation proposes including libraries in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), and is co-sponsored by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and Rep. Jared Polis (CO-2).

H.R. 113, is the exact same WILL Act bill that was introduced in the 112th Congress in April, 2011.  This legislation will amend the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to include library representation on state and local workforce investment boards as well as assure coordination of employment, training, and literacy services carried out by public libraries.  Furthermore, H.R. 113 also recognizes public libraries as an allowable “One-Stop” partner and authorizes new demonstration and pilot projects to establish employment resources in public libraries.  This will allow library users access to workforce activities and information related to training services and employment opportunities, including but not limited to resume development, job bank web searches, literacy services, and workshops on career information.  The goal of the WILL Act is to allow libraries the access to WIA funds to continue to provide job search support in communities all across America.

The ALA Washington Office would like to thank Reps. Holt, Grijalva, and Polis for their continued support of libraries in reintroducing this legislation in this new Congress.

About Jeffrey Kratz

Jeffrey Kratz is the Assistant Director of ALA Washington Office's Office of Government Relations (OGR).

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Posted in Library Advocacy

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IMLS holds Hill Briefing on Workforce Investment

Posted on October 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment
IMLS Briefing on Workforce Investment

Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) speaks at the IMLS briefing. View more photos on our flickr page.

Recently, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) sponsored a Congressional briefing titled “How Libraries Support Workforce Development.” The briefing featured several speakers from a variety of libraries and agencies that have seen firsthand the important role libraries have been playing in helping patrons find work and offering training to small businesses.

Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) was in attendance and remarked on the many needs libraries serve in communities across the country including workforce development. Rep. Holt re-iterated his hope that the principles laid out in the Workforce Investment through Libraries (WILL) Act, which he sponsored, will be included in the authorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) when it is brought to the House floor.

MaryEllen Firestone, Director of Library Services at the East Brunswick Public Library in New Jersey spoke about the success they’ve had by opening a business resource center.  After offering classes like “Facebook Marketing for Your Business,” the library saw an explosion of interest. One woman who had been laid off after more than 30 years on the job and had never operated a computer used the business resource center to take classes in basic computer skills. After learning skills like operating word processors and navigating the internet she was able to obtain a new job, putting her training to use.

Kevin Perez, Project Manager for the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, provided data on workforce development supported by libraries in New York state and nationally. He stated 96 percent of New York libraries offer workforce development services and 92 percent offer job databases and other online resources.  Mr. Perez emphasized that libraries offer unintimidating access and carry few social stigmas. And with more public libraries than McDonald’s restaurants nationally, libraries are a key access point in so many communities.

Jane Brady, Director of the Middlesex County Office of Workforce Development in Middlesex, NJ and Linda Carlisle, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources both spoke to the importance of government offices partnering with libraries on job-searching and training programs.

For more information on workforce development programs happening in libraries across the country, visit IMLS’s website.  For more information on the Congressional briefing please visit IMLS’s blog.

About Jeffrey Kratz

Jeffrey Kratz is the Assistant Director of ALA Washington Office's Office of Government Relations (OGR).

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Posted in Funding, OGR, Public Libraries

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ALA Washington Office Staff Share Advocacy News at National Conference

Posted on July 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Staff members from the American Library Association Washington Office discussed the latest on legislation, policy and regulatory issues on Saturday, June 23, 2012, during the “Washington Update” session at the 2012 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.

Washington Office staff from both the Office of Government Relations and the Office for Information Technology Policy discussed e-books, cybersecurity, federal library funding, Open Access, Workforce Investment Act and E-rate.

Jeff Kratz, ALA assistant director of the Office of Government Relations, kicked off the session by discussing federal funding for libraries, as well as federal spending in the 2012 fiscal year.

Grassroots Coordinator Ted Wegner discussed the text-messaging advocacy service Mobile Commons, a new interactive mobile tool that allows library advocates to instantly connect to their representatives via email. The service generates 2-3 messages per month and can be subscribed to by texting LIBRARY to 877877.

The event included several guest speakers from external organizations, including Patrice McDermott, executive director of Openthegovernment.org, and Rainey Reitman, activism director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Both McDermott and Reitman taught audience members how social networking tools are being used to garner grassroots support and why Americans need more openness in government on critical security issues. The speakers discussed bills like H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act.

Jordan Usdan, deputy director of Public and Private Initiatives, Federal Communications Commission also spoke during the session about Connect2Compete, a new a national outreach campaign that will help Americans develop digital skills and find new opportunities.

“We see libraries as a critical piece in solving the connectivity issue,” said Usdan.

Public and Private Initiatives Deputy Director Jordan Usdan

Public and Private Initiatives Deputy Director Jordan Usdan

The Washington Office hosted several advocacy breakout sessions for library supporters immediately following the “Washington Update” session. The sessions covered topics such as cutting edge technology services, grassroots advocacy, e-government grants and copyright challenges.

View photos from Washington Office sessions below:

Tulare Deputy County Librarian Jeff Scott discusses “Job in a Box,” a grant program that reaches the unemployed through a book vending machine.

Tulare Deputy County Librarian Jeff Scott discusses “Job in a Box,” a grant program that reaches the unemployed through a book vending machine.

New Jersey State Library state representatives Tiffany McClary and Sheri Shafer at the “E-Government in Action—Matching People with Jobs” session.

New Jersey State Library state representatives Tiffany McClary and Sheri Shafer at the “E-Government in Action—Matching People with Jobs” session.

Panelists at the session “Traditional Cultural Expressions: The Intersection of Indigenous Communities, Information Professionals, and Intellectual Freedom.”

Panelists at the session “Traditional Cultural Expressions: The Intersection of Indigenous Communities, Information Professionals, and Intellectual Freedom.”

Active Listeners

Active listeners at a session.

Grassroots advocacy guru Stephanie Vance leads a session at the conference.

Grassroots advocacy guru Stephanie Vance leads a session at the conference.

Jazzy Wright
Press Officer, American Library Association, Washington Office

About Jazzy Wright

Jazzy Wright is the Press Officer of the American Library Association's Washington Office. Email her at jwright@alawash.org.

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Posted in Cybersecurity, E-Rate, Library Advocacy, OGR, OITP

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House Reports WIA from Committee

Posted on June 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

On Thursday, the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee reported out of committee H.R. 4297, also known as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).  The bill was reported with a party line vote of 23-15, and contains several provisions that will be beneficial to libraries including:

  1. Ensuring that state plans includes a description of the actions that will be taken by the state to foster communications, coordination, and partnerships with non-profit organizations – including public libraries, and
  2. Ensuring that local plans include a description of the strategies and services that will be used in the local area to better coordinate workforce development programs with employment, training, and literacy services carried out by non-profit organizations – including libraries, and
  3. Authorizes public libraries that carry out employment, training, and literacy services as additional one-stop partners.

Unfortunately, an amendment offered by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) that would have allowed states to also have the ability to support employment resource centers in public libraries, was narrowly defeated by the committee.  Representatives Todd Platts (R-PA), Richard Hanna (R-NY), and Joe Heck (R-NV) crossed party lines to vote in favor of Rep. Holt’s amendment.

Next H.R. 4297 will be brought before the House Floor. No date has yet been scheduled for such an action.

About Jeffrey Kratz

Jeffrey Kratz is the Assistant Director of ALA Washington Office's Office of Government Relations (OGR).

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Posted in Public Libraries, Washington Office News

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