Nancy Kassebaum: “I am pleased we have been able to reach agreement on a number of amendments on this bill, including both of the…”

“I am pleased we have been able to reach agreement on a number of amendments on this bill, including both of the amendments I offered yesterday. We have agreed to a 5-year authorization, and Senator Nickles has been very helpful in limiting the amount of funds authorized. I am also pleased that we have worked out language so that my amendment to consolidate programs has been accepted. Despite these improvements, Mr. President, I voted against the bill. As I said yesterday, we already have 154 job training programs, and we don't need 155. I believe this bill is another example of what is wrong with our job training efforts. Each time Congress identifies a specific group in need of training--in this case high school students--it creates a new program, with new requirements and, of course, new funds. Mr. President, this bill is loaded with various kinds of grants-- State development grants, State implementation grants, Federal implementation grants, and high-poverty area grants. I fear the job opportunities created will not be for students but for grant writers and auditors. Creating new programs because we are disappointed with the effectiveness of the old ones is a time-honored tradition in Congress. Yielding again to this temptation is not the answer. Instead of establishing a new categorical program, we need to reform the patchwork job training system we now have.”