[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 102 (Friday, July 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     INTRODUCTION OF THE EMPLOYMENT ENHANCEMENT REFORM ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                      HON. WILLIAM H. ZELIFF, JR.

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 1994

  Mr. ZELIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues John Kasich, John 
Mica, and 18 of our colleagues to introduce legislation to improve the 
Federal job training effort.
  The Employment Enhancement Reform Act of 1994 will simplify and 
streamline the flow of Federal job training dollars to the States to 
better serve unemployed Americans and hasten their reentry into the 
work force.
  The GAO has identified over 150 different Federal job training and 
employment service programs. This diffuse, patchwork approach to 
providing job training services to unemployed Americans is confusing, 
inefficient, ineffective, and unnecessary. This legislation will remedy 
this situation by consolidating over 90 Federal job training programs 
into one flexible block grant program. States will have the flexibility 
to target job training funds where they are needed most and to be 
creative in providing this training.
  In addition to the many programs presently in existence, there is 
also a myriad of conflicting definitions and regulations to implement 
them. Under this legislation, States will have one set of job training 
definitions and regulations to implement, and one funding stream to 
monitor. This will result in more resources being devoted to providing 
effective job training services and fewer dollars being wasted on 
administrative costs.
  Populations that have traditionally been served by the programs to be 
consolidated will continue to be served, populations such as 
disadvantaged adults, dislocated workers, veterans, displaced 
homemakers, disadvantaged youths, persons with disabilities, and those 
requiring vocational education.
  States will be encouraged to establish a single coordinating council 
to facilitate the transition from one job to another, or from 
unemployment to employment, and to set up ``one stop shop'' centers 
throughout the State at which eligible individuals can obtain 
information on the various types of employment assistance and other 
social services available. Individuals seeking assistance will be 
profiled at these centers--in a similar fashion to what is currently 
done for unemployment benefits--to determine the kind of services 
needed to help them find employment. The bill also includes 
measurements to determine the success of the State programs.
  The temporary 0.2 percent FUTA [Federal Unemployment Tax] is repealed 
under this legislation, demonstrating to businesses that some Members 
of Congress are conscious of the mandates the Federal Government 
imposes and are willing to reduce the cost of labor to business to 
encourage job growth.
  A single, more efficient job training effort will also reduce the 
deficit by approximately $7 billion over 5 years. This legislation will 
make our job training dollars work better and put people back to work. 
I urge my colleagues to join Congressman Kasich, Congressman Mica, and 
me in this effort.

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