Aging and Workforce Development

Workforce Training Programs Maintained Under Senate Spending Bill

July 24, 2006 --On July 20, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $605.6 billion fiscal 2007 Labor-HHS spending measure (HR 5647). The bill provides $142.8 billion in discretionary funding, $5 billion more than the President’s request and $1.3 billion above current spending.

The bill provides $11.6 billion for the Department of Labor (DOL). In general, programs within the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) maintain their fiscal 2006 funding levels. Funding includes:

  • $1.5 billion for Dislocated Worker Assistance, $4.2 million more than fiscal 2006 spending and $361.5 million over the administration’s request. Of this, $1.2 billion is designated for state formula grants.
  • $5.1 billion for job training programs. This includes $800 million for adult job training, $80.6 million for the migrant and seasonal farm worker program, $935.5 million for youth training, and $60 million for offender re-entry programs.
  • $1.6 billion for Job Corps, an increase of $37 million over current spending and $128 million more than the budget request.
  • $432 million for Community Service Employment for Older Americans, level with current funding and the budget request.

The bill also provides $1.4 billion for aging programs, $18.5 million above fiscal 2006 spending and $45.7 million over the administration’s request. Included in this is $350.5 million for supportive services and senior centers, $21.4 million for preventive health services, $385.3 million for congregate nutrition services, $181.9 million for home delivered meals and $40.2 million for training, research, and special projects.

Return to the top

Senate Committee Approves Aging Reauthorization Bill

July 15, 2006 --On June 28, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved legislation (S 3570) reauthorizing the Older Americans Act. The House passed its version (HR 5293) on June 21.

The Senate measure reauthorizes the agency through 2011 and allows the expenditure of such sums as necessary. In addition, the measure creates a National Center on Senior Benefits and Outreach and Enrollment to educate the elderly on the benefits of enrolling in federal and state programs. Other key provisions include:

  • Creation of an Office of Elder Abuse Prevention and Services to carry out elder justice programs.
  • Reduces the eligibility age of a grandparent or relative caregiver caring for a child from 60 to 55 and expands the definition of children eligible to receive services.
  • Allows an individual with Alzheimer's disease, who is at least 50 years old, coverage under the caregiver support program.
  • Encourages Area Agencies on Aging to prepare for the influx of the baby boom generation.

The Senate version does not include controversial provisions contained in the House bill modifying the Older American Community Service Employment Program requiring 30 percent of participants in the program to move into private, unsubsidized employment by 2011.

The Senate bill does include a "hold harmless" provision in the program's allocation formula that prevents states whose elderly population is declining from losing funding.

Return to the top

Senate Passes Workforce Reauthorization Bill

July 15, 2006 --On June 29, the Senate approved legislation (S 1021) reauthorizing the nation's worker-training and retraining programs. The House passed its version (HR 27) in March 2005.

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) replaced the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and consolidated 60 different workforce programs into three distinct funding streams and established one-stop career centers.

The House bill and administration proposal would compress the three funding streams into a single $3 billion block grant program to states. In addition, the measures would allow faith-based groups that receive WIA funding to use religious preferences in hiring. The Senate-passed resolution does not contain either of these initiatives.

Senate passage sets up what is expected to be a contentious conference between the two chambers. Efforts at WIA reauthorization stalled during the 108th Congress due to disagreements over similar provisions.

Return to the top

House Reauthorizes Older Americans Act

June 21, 2006 --On June 21, the House adopted legislation (HR 5293) reauthorizing the Older Americans Act (OAA) through 2011. The bill authorizes the Aging Administration to spend "such sums as necessary" and makes several changes to the program.

Most significantly, the measure modifies the Community Service Employment Program, which trains seniors for placement into subsidized community service-based employment. The administration had sought to shift the program's focus to a professional training-based initiative that would lead to jobs in the private sector. Under a compromise agreement, the program retains its community service focus by requiring at least half of the jobs provide a community service focus and requires states and organizations administering the program to place 30 percent of senior participants into unsubsidized jobs by 2011.

Other revisions include:

  • Addition of elder abuse prevention and services as a responsibility of the Administration on Aging.
  • Requirements to improve program access for individuals with limited English proficiency.
  • Requires states and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to develop and implement a comprehensive, coordinated system for providing long-term care in home- and community-based settings.
  • Authorizes AAAs to conduct assessments of anticipated change in the number of older individuals and encourages AAAs, in cooperation with public agencies, to support community planning efforts to prepare for an increased number of older Americans.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is expected to mark up its version the week of June 26. For additional information, contact NADO Legislative Director Jason Boehlert at 202.624.8590 or jboehlert@nado.org.

Return to the top

Back to Issue Updates list