APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 30, 2005

Appropriations Update House of Representatives.
On June 23rd, by a vote of 250 to 151, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 3010, the FY 2006 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Strengthening worker training and education programs is critical to putting Americans back to work and creating jobs. Through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) system created in 1998, job seekers have access to labor job training services, counseling, and market information to help them get back on their feet.

The House-passed bill provides $164 million less than that approved in FY 05; but, $924 million more for all discretionary programs than that requested by the Bush Administration.

The House decided not to support some of the Administration’s proposed program terminations, and opposed a few of the new programs sought by the Administration. The House-passed appropriations bill now goes to a conference committee with the Senate, where they will attempt to reach an agreement before sending it to the President for his signature.

Among the House-passed programs that received the same funding as in FY 2005 are: Migrant and Seasonal Workers ($76 M); Apprenticeship Services ($21 M); and Community Service Employment or Older Americans ($437M).

House-passed programs that received a reduction in funding compared to FY 2005 include: Adult Training (-$30M); Youth Training (-$36M); Job Corps (-$9M); Training and Employment Services (-$216M); State Allotments for Employment Services (-$85M); Labor Market Information (-$10M); and, Dislocated Worker Assistance (-$70M).

In addition, there were two programs that were zero-funded by the House: Personal Re-Employment Accounts and the President’s Community College Initiative. The House Appropriations Committee hopes to finish work on the eleven spending bills by July, about a month ahead of its self-imposed timetable. Currently, seven of the eleven appropriations bills are complete.

For the House-passed appropriations bill: click here.

For more information, contact:

Julie Yue, Public Relations & Business Services Coordinator
LA Works
(626) 960-3964 ext. 2321
julie.yue@laworks.org

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