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Legislative Network Alerts Alert Number 100 December 15, 2004 For Your Information Legislative Update on The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) To: Members of the Legislative Network From: Patricia Leahy, Director of Governmental Affairs Pursuant to several conversations with both House and Senate staff over the past week and a half, it appears that the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is on a fast track in both the House and Senate and, we are told, may be the first bill to be introduced in the 109th Congress by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. We should expect swift introduction of a WIA bill in the Senate, as well. At this time, neither the House nor Senate authorizing Committees (the House Education and the Workforce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee) expect additional hearings on Title IV of WIA, which as you know, comprises the 1998 Rehabilitation Act Amendments (hereinafter referred to as VR). Barring any additional issues from the Administration, Hill staff expect the House and Senate bills to resemble the 2004 House and Senate bills, with the exception of one issue. We are advised by both House and Senate staff that Transition language (mandating transitional services at 14 years of age to eligible children and young adults with disabilities) will be included in both the House and Senate VR Title. This is the same language which was included in the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) reauthorization, but ultimately not included in the final IDEA bill which was signed by the President on December 3, 2004. While the National Rehabilitation Association strongly supports enhancing services and supports to deserving children and young adults with disabilities, we are enormously concerned that not including statutory language in the VR reauthorization for additional resources to do so will have the unintended consequence of pitting deserving adults with disabilities against serving additional, deserving children with disabilities. And, yes, we are aware that both constituencies are important and need to be served, but the reality is that Title I of the Rehab Act has been underfunded for years. Relatedly, we believe that Congressional intent in funding Title I mandatorily was meant to be a floor -- not a ceiling -- to funding. The National Rehabilitation Association spoke to both the Transition and underfunding issues in a previous Washington Wire issued earlier this year which said that without additional resources (and that includes resources to hire additional, qualified rehabilitation counselors and associated qualified professionals), we, very regrettably, could not support enhanced transition services and supports absent additional funds. This position of transition, which we are loath to take, is especially important given the hundreds of thousands of dollars (and in many cases millions of dollars) that are being taken from VR to fund a one-stop system that is not physically accessible in some cases and is certainly not programmatically accessible in most cases. Then, there is the continuing absence of qualified staff at the one-stops -- qualified to provide services and supports to ALL -- and ALL MEANS ALL -- individuals with disabilities. The reality -- like it or not -- is that five-plus years after the passage of the Workforce Investment Act -- things look pretty much the same at the one-stops for individuals with disabilities -- very limited access -- very limited (if, at all) qualified staff -- and although not documented to the best our knowledge -- virtually no positive data on the one-stops in serving individuals with disabilities -- especially those with significant disabilities. The National Rehabilitation Association appreciates the efforts of the U.S. Department of Labor and all in the community who have tried and continue to try to enhance what they can offer individuals with disabilities at the one-stops who want the dignity of work and in most cases the dignity of having a career and living independently in the community. But those efforts, as in the past, have not been productive. We, as advocates, have committed ourselves to promoting policies and programs that enhance the lives of ALL individuals with disabilities, including children, young adults and adults with significant disabilities. All of us must think long and hard about whether further investing our dwindling dollars in a system that has not -- and may not -- serve all individuals with disabilities, is a wise investment for the children and adults we are here to serve. The National Rehabilitation Association will spend the next several weeks revisiting our Principles to Reauthorization of the Rehab Act and will issue soon our Issues Statements in that and other regards. Yesterday, the General Accountability Office (GAO) issued a new report on accessibility at the one-stops, which I have not read, but will shortly. We are providing you the link to that Report in this legislative update. As always, all information referenced in this legislative update is current as of this time and date and could change quickly. Here's the information on the GAO Report: 'Workforce Investment Act: Labor Has Taken Several Steps to Facilitate Access to One-Stops for Persons with Disabilities, but These Actions May Not Be Sufficient.' GAO-05-54, December 14. It can be located online: http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-54 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0554high.pdf |
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