From: Patricia Leahy, Director of Legislative Policy and Governmental Affairs

Re: THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET SEEMS TO BE REVIVING THE CAREERS BILL

Date: Tuesday, February 8, 2005

In yesterday's Washington Wire you may recall that we referenced language that was included in the President's budget that called for supplemental consolidation (BLOCK GRANTING) of certain job training programs at the discretion of the Governor, which we referenced as possibly including the programs administered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (hereinafter referred to as VR).

The National Rehabilitation Association is on record AS OPPOSING any authority by the Governors to waive the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. From what I am reading and being advised, this new, proposed RECOMMENDATION to the Congress in the President's Budget appears also to revive a version of the superwaiver, which we all remember was first spotted in the reauthorization of TANF.

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) held a Budget briefing and provided the following information to advocates who attended that briefing.

Under the Title of "Job Training Reform" is referenced the WIA PLUS Consolidated Grant Program which is proposing IN THE PRESIDENT'S 2006 Budget to give governors flexibility to meet local needs by allowing them to CONSOLIDATE any of 9 job training program into one State Plan. Programs eligible for consolidation include: The four DOL programs proposed to be consolidated; Adult Training, Dislocated Workers, Youth Employment Services, Veterans Employment, VR, Adult Ed, Food Stamps and Trade Adjustment.

In DOL's Budget briefing, we are told, these programs (including VR) were described as MICRO-MANAGED FROM WASHINGTON. Further, that the combined overhead costs were DUPLICATIVE and inefficient and program requirements were referred to as ARCHAIC.

ETA is proposing to allow the governors to submit one plan, with minimized program requirements in exchange for increased accountability. The accountability is that they work for the goal (they emphasized it was goal, not requirement) of 100% placement at the end of 10 years. Also, drops in participant levels for targeted populations -- and disability was specifically mentioned -- will not be allowable.
This approach, we are told by the advocates that attended this briefing, was described s "RESTRUCTURE FOR RESULTS." DOL/ETA state:

'This option will empower Governors and local officials to design a streamlined workforce system that reduces administrative overhead, achieve better results, and trains more workers for the jobs for the 21st Century.
They stated that they would work with Congress to ensure the final WIA reauthorization would contain the components to achieve these goals.

Regarding Assistive Technology, I was advised yesterday that the President's Budget did not request any funds to support the State AT Programs and the AT Protection and Advocacy Service. The President's Budget, however, has recommended $15 million to support the Alternative Financing Programs.

Watch in the next few days for an ALERT, complete with a list of Members of Congress to contact regarding what all must consider to be a back-door approach to reviving the CAREERS BILL of 1995, which you may recall, was an attempt in H.R. 1617, the so-called CAREERS bill, to block grant the VR Program.

This attempt to BLOCK GRANT VR, which we all know is a BIPARTISAN program, was resoundingly rejected by a vote on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on September 19, 1995.

We will continue to fight for the integrity of the Public/Private VR Partnership and for all individuals with disABILITIES who want the dignity of a career and a more independent life.