[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H6865-H6867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1385, WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up for 
immediate consideration the conference report on the bill (H.R. 1385) 
to consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, 
and vocational rehabilitation programs in the United States, and for 
other purposes, and that it be considered as adopted.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of 
July 29, 1998 at page H6604.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, although I do 
not intend to object, and I yield to the gentleman to explain his 
unanimous consent request.
  (Mr. GOODLING asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference 
report, H.R. 1385, the Workforce Investment Act of 1989. It has been 4 
years that Members and staff have been working day and night to put 
this together, so it is a great day to say that we have finally made 
it.
  I want to thank Members of the House for their contributions and to 
the development of the legislation. I particularly want to thank the 
gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training and Lifelong Earning, 
for his efforts which have brought us here today. Also the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, 
for working closely with us to develop this legislation and move the 
legislation forward in a bipartisan fashion; and the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay), the ranking Democrat on the committee for his 
contributions toward this bipartisan effort.
  I want to thank Senator Jeffords, the chairman of the Senate Labor 
and Human Resources Committee, and Senator DeWine, chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Employment and Training, for their tireless efforts. I 
also want to make sure that we mention Mary Gardner Claggett and Darch 
Philips and Brian Kennedy of the staffs because they have spent hours 
and hours and hours negotiating all the crossings of the T's and the 
dotting of the I's. Finally, I want to thank all of those who worked 
with us to develop the legislation in the administration. They all 
provided valuable assistance, as we in the Congress developed the bill. 
I want to repeat that line: as we in the Congress developed the bill.
  A number of important organizations who support the legislation have 
contributed significantly to the conference agreement, including the 
National Governors Association, the National Conference of State 
Legislatures, the National Association of Counties, U.S. Chamber of 
Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National 
Alliance of Business, the National Association of Private Industry 
Council, the Home School Legal Defense Association, the National Center 
for Family Literacy, the Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities, and 
many others.
  This conference report is based on many positive reforms that are 
already underway in States and local communities.
  H.R. 1385 vastly reduces federal involvement in job training, 
employment, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs; transfers 
the vast majority of resources and authority to the States and local 
communities; and most importantly, sends authority and responsibility 
into the hands of actual individuals--giving people choices in the 
selection of occupations, services, and service providers so that they 
are empowered to succeed in today's society.
  The Agreement consolidates over 60 federal programs through the 
establishment of three block grants to States and localities, and 
through amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
  In the area of Adult Education and Literacy Programs, the Agreement 
will provide much-needed services to individuals through a variety of 
literacy providers, which can meet the unique educational needs of 
adult learners and assist them in becoming self-sufficient.
  Adult education programs are often the key to lifting individuals out 
of poverty. They open doors for individuals who are illiterate, who are 
welfare-dependent, who are unemployed or under-employed, and who are 
unable to help their children to succeed in school and break the cycle 
of illiteracy.
  To understand the need to provide assistance to adults with low 
levels of literacy we only need to look at the statistics. Forty-three

[[Page H6866]]

percent of those with the lowest literacy levels live in poverty, 17 
percent receive food stamps, and 70 percent are unemployed or under-
employed. More than two-thirds of unwed parents, adults in poverty, 
school dropouts, and arrestees have below average literacy levels.
  This Conference Agreement also allows adults, on a voluntary basis to 
participate in family literacy programs--an approach to addressing the 
literacy needs of the nation by simultaneously addressing the 
educational needs of at least two generations. It is the integration of 
the best practices of adult education, early childhood, and parent 
education--designed to restore the family as the focus in education.
  For Disadvantaged Youth, the Agreement increases the focus of 
existing youth programs on longer-term academic and occupational 
training--on getting young people back to school, rather than 
stand alone, short-term employment fixes. While allowing the 
continuation of good summer youth employment programs, the bill 
requires that all employment experiences under these programs be tied 
to basic academic and occupational learning opportunities. Under these 
programs, priority for services is given to hard to serve disadvantaged 
youth, including a requirement that not less than 30% of local youth 
program funds be spent on out-of-school youth.

  For Adults, the bill establishes a single delivery system for adult 
employment and training, that maximizes individual choice in the 
selection of occupations and training providers, while protecting 
funding for dislocated workers.
  Going hand-in-hand with welfare reform, the bill encourages an 
``employment first'' approach to job training.
  The bill encourages individual responsibility and personal decision-
making through the use of vouchers (individual training accounts) for 
the purchase of training services. This market-driven system eliminates 
the decades old tradition of bureaucrats making training decisions for 
adults. Customer choice makes the job training and employment system 
more responsive to the skill needs of individuals and the local labor 
market.
  The Agreement provides a strong and active role for business, 
utilizing business-led local boards for the design and implementation 
of the training system--making sure that training is provided for the 
high-skill, high-wage jobs of the future. All training is to occur for 
occupations that are in demand.
  Under the new system, individuals will choose training providers 
based on performance information accessed through the one-stop delivery 
system. This will result in a truly market-driven system where the best 
providers of training will prevail.
  With regard to vocational rehabilitation, the Agreement significantly 
expands opportunities for persons with disabilities.
  Under the Conference agreement, individuals with disabilities will 
finally have access to a comprehensive job training system that is 
capable of serving all who come to its doors. Unemployed individuals 
with disabilities will have broader job opportunities, allowing them to 
re-enter or in some cases enter the workforce for the first time.
  The bill provides a much needed emphasis on self-employment, business 
ownership, and telecommuting opportunities, as well as improving 
linkages with employers and the State workforce investment system.
  In conclusion, as the barriers to local reforms are removed through 
this legislation, we will see an array of newly energized programs 
emerge that will provide individual participants with the information 
they need to make informed choices--and help them acquire the skills 
that make them most attractive on the local job market.
  We will see reformed systems that make sense in today's economy, and 
that can adapt as the economy continues to change and grow.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join with us in support of this 
Conference Report on H.R. 1385 that will empower individuals to make 
their own decisions that will enable them to be self-sufficient and 
prosper in today's society.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I thank 
the gentleman, and I rise in support of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, a highly skilled work force is essential if we are to be 
successful in the increasingly competitive global economy. Now, more 
than ever, we must rely on the skills and productivity of American 
workers. Education and job training programs provide the opportunity to 
learn and improve skills. We must make sure that those programs are as 
effective as possible. So I am pleased to be a part of the effort to 
improve the quality of our education and training system, while 
eliminating duplication of efforts and unnecessary bureaucracy.
  Let me express my gratitude to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling), to the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), and the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for their hard work on the House 
legislation. Also, for their continued efforts to move this bill 
through conference and on to the President's desk.

                              {time}  1445

  I am pleased that there is broad agreement, Mr. Speaker, one, to 
foster the development of one-stop intake systems that will provide 
comprehensive information on the kinds of assistance available to those 
seeking help; two, to tailor job training assistance to the particular 
needs of each individual; three, to provide those seeking assistance 
with comprehensive consumer information about the quality of programs; 
four, to improve the quality of training and the accountability of the 
system; and five, to streamline and coordinate the delivery of 
services.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bipartisan legislation, and I 
urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the conference report.
  Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I yield to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon).
  Mr. McKEON. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me, Mr. Speaker.
  I rise in strong support of the conference report for H.R. 1385, the 
Workforce Investment Act of 1998. This agreement is an important step 
in addressing the Nation's long-term Workforce preparation needs by 
helping States and local communities to make sense out of our current 
confusing array of employment training and literacy programs.
  The American economy is strong and is increasingly driven by 
creativity, innovation, and technology. It has been reported that new 
high-skilled jobs are growing at nearly three times the rate of other 
jobs. However, many employers are finding it increasingly difficult to 
find workers with the skill necessary to fill these high-wage 
positions.
  This agreement will provide opportunities for more Americans to 
obtain these jobs. The agreement accomplishes long overdue reform, 
consolidating over 60 Federal programs through the establishment of 
three block grants to States and localities for the provision of such 
services, and through amendments to the Rehabilitation Act.
  It accomplishes key reforms in this country's job training system by 
building on the three principles of individual choice, quality training 
for the 21st century, and the transfer of resources and authority for 
employment, training and literacy programs to States and local 
communities.
  For youth, we amend the JTPA's current disadvantaged youth programs, 
increasing the focus of such programs on long-term term academic and 
occupational training, rather than short-term employment fixes; 
requiring that all employment experiences under these programs be tied 
to academic and occupational learning opportunities; and prioritizing 
services for hard-to-serve disadvantaged youth, including school 
dropouts.
  For adults we establish a single delivery system for adult employment 
and training that maximizes individual choice through the use of 
vouchers for ``individual training accounts'' for the purchase of 
training services.
  This market-driven system, focusing on customer choice, makes the job 
training and employment system more responsive to the skill needs of 
individuals in the local labor market. Not only will this conference 
agreement result in improved services to dislocated workers, but it 
will also result in enhanced services provided to welfare recipients 
who must make the transition from welfare to work.
  Title II of the Workforce Investment Act amends the current Adult 
Education Act, consolidating adult education programs into a flexible 
block grant to States. This portion of the agreement includes important 
linkages to employment and training programs to ensure that individuals 
seeking employment and training services have the literacy skills they 
need in order to succeed.
  With regard to vocational rehabilitation, this agreement will provide 
more job opportunities to individuals with disabilities, and provide a 
much-needed emphasis on self-employment, business ownership, and 
telecommunicating opportunities, as well as linkages with

[[Page H6867]]

employers and the State workforce investment system.
  This agreement will not only provide the flexibility that States and 
local communities need to vastly improve their employment and training 
efforts, but it will provide individuals that are in need of these 
services with the information, choice, and resources that they need to 
become skilled and gainfully employed.
  The skills of this Nation's workforce are more important today than 
ever before. This agreement will go far to help States and local 
communities to reform employment training and literacy programs that 
address the individual skill needs of their citizens. It will go far to 
empower individuals to break the cycle of dependency that has plagued 
our country for too long.
  I want to take this opportunity to thank the Members of our committee 
for their contributions in the development of this legislation; in 
particular, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling), for 
his insight and leadership over the years on this issue; and the 
ranking member of the full committee, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Clay), and the Democrat on the post-secondary subcommittee, the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), with whom I have worked very 
closely in coming to this agreement. I want to thank them for their 
help and support.
  In addition, I want to thank all of the Senate conferees for their 
efforts, especially Senator Jeffords, the chairman of the Labor and 
Human Resources Committee, and Senator DeWine, chairman of the 
Employment and Training Subcommittee.
  I would also like to thank the staff for their hard work on this 
conference agreement: Vic Klatt, Sally Lovejoy, Mary Gardner Clagett, 
D'Arcy Philps, Lynn Selmser, Jeff Andrade, Andrea Weiss, and Brian 
Kennedy from the Democrat staff. I would also like to thank the 
administration for working with us to make this a bipartisan effort.
  Finally, I am very pleased that the National Governors Association, 
the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National 
Association of Counties are supporting this agreement, as well as 
leading national business operations. This is truly a good agreement 
that will help this country's workers gain the skills they need to 
succeed in today's workforce. I urge Members' strong support for this 
conference report.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, continuing under my reservation of objection, 
I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to have been part of this bipartisan 
effort to streamline and reform our Nation's job training system. I 
have enjoyed working with my friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Buck McKeon), the chairman of the subcommittee, and I also appreciate 
the hard work and leadership of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling), the Chairman, and the ranking member, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) on this legislation.
  The conference report we consider today represents a culmination of a 
4-year effort to improve our job training system and eliminate the 
unnecessary duplication and bureaucracy.
  The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 consolidates over 60 separate 
Federal job training programs into a single coordinated system. The 
legislation builds on President Clinton's proposed G.I. Bill for 
Workers by providing individual training accounts, so that those who 
seek assistance can choose the kind of training that best meets their 
needs.
  The Workforce Investment Act also increases accountability by 
providing individuals seeking training with report cards on the quality 
of programs offered by eligible providers, and hold States and 
localities responsible for meeting high levels of performance. I am 
also pleased that the legislation protects funding for dislocated 
workers, and better targets programs for at-risk youth by setting aside 
a significant amount of dollars for funding out-of-school youth.
  I am also pleased that the bill includes a strong summer jobs 
element, and the concentrated youth opportunity grant program developed 
by the President and Secretary Herman.
  Mr. Speaker, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 is an example of 
what we in Congress can do when we put aside our partisan differences 
and work together to promote the interests of all Americans. Again, I 
am proud to have been a part of this process, and I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this conference report.
  I would like to thank the staff members who have worked so hard on 
this: Mary Gardner Clagett, D'Arcy Philps, Vic Klatt, Brian Kennedy, 
Jennifer Maranzano of my own staff, and Mary Ellen Sprenkel.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, continuing to reserve my right to object, I 
yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez).
  (Mr. MARTINEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Conference Report on 
the Workforce Investment Act, and urge everyone to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Conference Report on the 
Workforce Investment Act.
  Trained skills are an essential ingredient not only for individual 
success, but also for the United States as a whole if we intend to 
remain competitive in this increasingly technological world.
  In the near future this body will legislate to increase the number of 
immigrants to this country in an attempt to address the current 
shortage of skilled workers.
  What we should be doing, and are attempting to do through this 
legislation, is increasing the skill level of our own workforce.
  Although unemployment is currently at an all time low, there are 
still too many unemployed and underemployed Americans, and this number 
will only increase as the welfare reform act mandates those currently 
on the welfare rolls to enter the workforce.
  That is why this bill, the Workforce Investment Act, is so essential.
  This bill, which passed both the House and Senate earlier this year 
with overwhelming support, is, in my opinion, even better today thanks 
to the long hours and dedication of the conference committee and staff.
  This bill consolidates the more than 60 existing Federal training 
programs, which have often been criticized as being too fragmented and 
duplicative.
  It provides States with the flexibility necessary to implement 
programs that will best suit their particular needs while maintaining 
high standards and accountability.
  It emphasizes one-stop centers that allow consumers to more easily 
access job training services. It also targets resources to those who 
need them most--youth, low-income, and displaced workers.
  Last night the Senate passed this bipartisan conference report with 
unanimous consent. I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the conference report is 
agreed to.
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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