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Legislative Network Alerts Alert Number 105 February 7, 2005 For Your Information The President's 2006 Federal Budget To: Members of the Legislative Network From: Patricia Leahy, Director of Governmental Affairs As you may be aware, the President's 2006 Budget was released today. We are attaching for your information the links to access the entire President's Budget, as well as links to the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor's respective Budgets. Entire Budget: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2006/ Department Budgets: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy06/browse.html The President's Budget recommends that Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, continue to be funded mandatorily and, accordingly, to receive the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), which is also referenced as the Consumer Price Index, Adjusted for Urban Areas (CPIU). The President's budget once again recommends consolidating Supported Employment, Projects with Industry (PWIs), Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers and Recreation into Title I of the Rehab Act. The National Rehabilitation Association has opposed this consolidation past and continues to oppose this consolidation. The President's budget does NOT recommend that the American Indian Programs be consolidated into Title I of the Rehab Act. We have also been advised that the President's Budget recommends 7 million for transitional services to children and young adults, 2 million of which will come from VR funds. Once again, the Public/Private VR Partnership has received an adequate rating in the Performance section of the Budget. Regarding the elimination/consolidation of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Regional Offices, while this is NOT referenced in the President's Budget, we have been told that this consolidation/elimination can be done administratively by the U.S. Department of Education WITHOUT THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE CONGRESS. The National Rehabilitation Association has been monitoring this situation very closely, knows that the U.S. Department of Education is expediting this elimination/consolidation and will report more substantively on this issue in a forthcoming Washington Wire. The National Rehabilitation Association is strongly opposed to the consolidation/elimination of RSA's Regional Offices. One section of the Budget that we think is ALSO enormously significant and want to share with you immediately is this: In the Budget where there is discussion about the four Department of Labor programs that are recommended for consolidation into a BLOCK GRANT, the President's Budget also stated: 'In addition, Governors would be able to supplement the consolidated grant with their State's resources from a 'menu' of several other Federal job training and employment programs,' which begs the question: What other 'Federal job training and employment programs' will SUPPLEMENT the DOL consolidated block grant at the Governors' discretion? Today's Wall Street Journal reports that the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Block Grant will include adults, dislocated workers and youth (which I believe is new) into a 3.9 billion block grant (down from 4.1 billion). It is also reported that the President's Budget will consolidate Trade Adjustment Assistance, Veterans training, Agriculture, food stamps, employment and training, VOC REHAB, and adult education into a single 3.6 billion block grant (down from 3.9 billion). We will keep you advised of developments in this and related regards as those developments become known to us. Information referenced within is current as of this time and date and will be supplemented and/or could change. |
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