Steven Holt: “I rise to oppose this rule to H.R. 27, the Workforce Investment Act. The renewal that is proposed to us today, however…”

“I rise to oppose this rule to H.R. 27, the Workforce Investment Act. The renewal that is proposed to us today, however, is a step backwards; and we will hear a great deal about that. There were amendments that were proposed that have not been made in order. These amendments would have created a separate authorization for infrastructure funding for one-stop centers, would have struck the provisions regarding personal reemployment accounts. There was an amendment that would have struck the provisions to consolidate the funding of adult, dislocated worker and employment service; and an amendment that I would like to address at this moment that I offered that would have increased the authorization by $750 million for job training programs under the Workforce Investment Act. Between fiscal year 2002 and fiscal year 2006, Mr. Speaker, funding for the Workforce Investment Act has been reduced by three-quarters of a billion dollars. This is for a program that works. But the funding has been reduced. My amendment would have restored this funding. However, the Committee on Rules did not see fit to accept the amendment.”