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From Center for Law and Social Policy:
Instead of addressing our country's pressing need for investment in workforce education and training programs, the Bush administration, in its FY 2009 budget, is once again proposing deep cuts to critical employment and training programs that help many Americans find work and build the skills necessary to secure good jobs.
These cuts come at a time when workers and their families are already struggling in a softening labor market, and employers have growing needs for a skilled workforce in order to compete in the global economy.
The administration's Career Advancement Account (CAA) proposal to consolidate core employment and training programs is a smokescreen for deep budget cuts.
The consolidation proposal would eliminate the funding stream that supports the local youth workforce delivery system across the country.
The consolidation proposal includes a complete elimination of all funding for the Employment Service Grants to States and significant cuts to the WIA Adult, Youth, and Dislocated Worker programs.
The proposed cuts and consolidation would reduce the critical role of the federally funded workforce investment system in helping employers to meet their needs for a skilled workforce.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational projections show that the highest rates of net job changes between 2004 and 2014 will occur in jobs requiring at least some postsecondary certification or college degree.v However, a large proportion of our current workforce lack even basic literacy skills.
As our nation heads into uncertain times, the President should be proposing to expand these critical programs, not dismantle them.
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Posted on February 10, 2008 10:13 PM
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