FEINGOLD
FIGHTS FOR AMERICAN WORKERS
Works to invest in American jobs during time of economic slowdown
April 4, 2008
Washington, D.C. –
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is continuing his strong support for American
workers by calling for an increase in funding for employment and training
programs to help support our nation’s workforce at this critical
time in our nation’s economy. In a letter to Senate Appropriators,
Feingold is requesting funds be restored for the Workforce Investment
Act (WIA) and Employment Service programs after the Administration’s
budget proposed reducing WIA funding by $484 million and completely
eliminating Employment Services. The reduced funding levels proposed
by the Administration could undermine workforce preparedness and jeopardize
the ability of WIA and Employment Services programs to serve the millions
of workers who will seek services under these programs this year.
“I regularly hear from
Wisconsinites about the importance of protecting and improving Workforce
Investment Act programs,” Feingold said. “With a struggling
economy and job losses nationwide, the federal government should be
helping American workers through these difficult times, not cutting
the job training programs many people depend on. I am committed to fighting
for American workers by investing in programs that could greatly benefit
millions of Americans.”
In February 2008, the Department
of Labor reported a loss of 63,000 jobs and more than 7.6 million Americans
currently unemployed, a rate of about 4.8 percent. The training provided
through WIA programs gives individuals the skills required to meet the
needs of our changing workforce and provides employers with high-quality,
trained employees.
Feingold has long been a
supporter of increasing funding for WIA and improving the program’s
ability to address the needs of the 21st century workforce. After hearing
from many participants and administrators of the WIA programs earlier
this month, Feingold sent a letter to leaders of the Senate Health,
Education, Labor and Pension Committee to advocate for improvements
to WIA during the reauthorization process. The letter encouraged the
Committee to include WIA on its list of priorities for the year, and
to modernize and update WIA programs to reflect the changing needs of
employees and employers and to include those who may not be well-serviced
by existing programs. In February 2007, Feingold introduced the Community-Based
Health Care Retraining Act, which would amend WIA to help train unemployed
workers for employment in the growing and understaffed health care industry.
A copy of the letter can
be viewed here.
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