USCM

Workforce Council – US Conference of Mayors
Began 9:21 AM
Board Business

Report on Pre-Conference workshop in Tampa Florida with the National Workforce Association
Terry Hudson reported that the pre-conference partnership was successful. The income to the USCM was $3,000. The partnership worked well, the topics were economic planning in the workforce development area and the second was the youth programs.
Joan Crigger was the person that helped make this happen from the staff side.
We are planning another joint effort with NWA this year.
Terry announced that he will be semi-retired this year and following Joan Crigger in shifting to a consulting position and helping his board in Huston move toward his replacement.

Business portion first.
Membership report – Sallie Glickman
Membership had a net dollar increase.
Budget Report showed that fiscal restraint needs to continue.
Eliminating the ½ day and an extra overnight should save some money.

There is quite a bit of institutional knowledge around this table and we need to start to think entrepreneurial and consider as a group of powerful resources.
This could be a funding potential as we have quite a bit of experience.

Legislative Update
Big picture items. John Colbert will talk about the next steps for WIA. This session is not looking like we will have a new bill. But now Sen. Enzi and Sen. Kennedy are saying things will move. Senator Murray is saying we will not get it this year and that we need to be thinking of what the future WIA we want to have since it will be next year.
The energy bill is passed and Green Jobs is what everyone is moving forward with.

TAA last year passed including the service sector, and then all the funding went thru merit staff. Since TAA has expired, the Senate and House will take this up again right away. DOL said they will continue TAA until the reauthorization goes thru.

Discussion ensued on green jobs and what is helping move this forward. Construction industry has adopted the environmental standards. This is a trend that will not go away and we need to be looking at ways that we promote this as integrated in many fields and certifications.

Discussion on the rescission, it seems that many states are getting hard hit. How do we explain this to our elected officials because it is so murky and unclear? It is frustrating for all of us.

HR 3920 Global Trade Assistance Act.

Viji Rangaswami reported that they hope to have the law this year. Senator Bakus has proposed a senator bill.
TAA for firms, TAA for farmers was added in 2002. Deficiencies that are highlighted
· Expand the number of workers to qualify
· Revamp training – longer term training
· More user friendly program

Had an OK relationship with DOL but they were unable to fully engage due to political pressure from the white house.

There has been an exclusion of service sector worker. These workers are now facing global competition and should now be included in the TAA. So, it is accountants, IT services, call centers, and the like. There are some countries where if the jobs move there, you cannot get help, if it goes to other countries, you can get help. The bill eliminates these practices.

Public agency workers may also get help if the outsourcing displaces their jobs.

Four innovations:
· Define a minimum level of service- level out the services in every state
· Case Management is very important –
· Increase amount on funding for the next four years
· Require that DOL allocates to states more reasonably Disburse the first day of the fiscal year – not the last year
· Clarifications on training
o College is an acceptable form of training
o Allow workers to supplement training funds with private money
o Allow workers to spread time out to learn
· Make program more user friendly more administrative funding to cover case management costs
· Opportunities for automatic enrollment
· Changed the deadline includes the 816 deadline. 26 weeks to find a job and then get into TAA
· Changes to add Healthcare coverage. HC tax credit for TAA enrolled workers to cover their expenses – raised it from 65% to 85%.
· Sunset the HC after two years to review the results and look for other possibilities.
· TAA wage insurance program.
Hun Quach talked about what the Senate was working on this and hope to get it done this spring.
House and Senate bill
· TAA for communities program that is run by Dept of Commerce.
· They are mirroring after the BRAC system – revitalizing the community
· HC Tax Credit increases the percentage too.
· Lower wage insurance to age 40
· Important to deliver at the local level and add funds up to 5% of training funds.
· Extend to extend the TAA for farmers programs

The challenges are in the Senate and to get the 60 votes. Senator Grassley and Senator Bakus do work together most of the time. There is still an issue in the Senate that is stopping this from moving forward.